‘A gift to the graduating seniors'

To the editor: It was profoundly disheartening and disturbing to find out the complete story about one of the current crop of “senior pranks” at Warwick Valley High School. Relating only what she knew about the mayhem in the cafeteria two weeks ago, my tenth-grade daughter brought home only partial news of the release of several white mice and rats in the school on May 10. Thanks to the editor at the Advertiser for including the complete story in the Law and Order section of the May 18 edition. I would recommend all high school parents read the article, if they haven’t already done so, focusing on the details of the cruelty with which certain students treated the “subjects of their prank,” namely the animals. And please do not just shake your heads and count yourselves fortunate that it wasn’t your son or daughter who was involved. Inasmuch as your child and mine are students at the high school and that we as parents constitute a vital, albeit extended, part of the high school community, the immorality of this “prank” affects us all. Speaking on behalf of The Warwick Valley Humane Society, Suzyn Barron, its president, has taken the appropriate lead in investigating what is clearly an animal abuse incident. According to Barron, student names will be forwarded to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. As has been done so many times in the past, the Humane Society is once again demonstrating its commitment to the humane treatment of the animals of our Warwick Valley. I extend my personal gratitude and support for this effort. This incident, however, begs the larger question of the notion of the “senior prank.” It’s time to examine the thinking behind this annual rite of passage that has become in my opinion and based on my very limited first-hand experience as a high school parent, an annual scourge and plague that descends on the high school in the final weeks leading up to graduation. The idea of creating some “high jinks” in the waning weeks of senior year is certainly an ages old custom and one which seeks I would say to contrast the more formal, “serious-minded” event of graduation with some lighter, comic touches, good-natured, wholesome touches that is, not mean spirited, inhumane, or destructive ones. Has any one forgotten the “notorious” food fights of last year with reports of property damage to the high school cafeteria? Never mind a “new” approach; “an” approach is needed. Punitive steps taken after the fact are not proactive or terribly effective as the “culprits” graduate and some underclass men and women either have short memories or feel duty bound to repeat unacceptable pranking practices. To be fair, some proactive steps have been taken this year as outlined in a letter to high school parents from Principal Randy Barbarash. Banning backpacks in the hallways and limiting drinking of liquids to the cafeteria to name a few. Some positive rewards have also been incorporated into the administration’s repertoire of ways to deal with even the thought of pulling some inappropriate behavior, i.e., serving lunch barbecue-style outdoors on high school grounds (sounds lovely!). Kudos and best wishes for the success of these measures. However, an even more effective approach I believe would involve the seniors acting in their own self interest to help themselves create a climate of wholesome, good-natured, non-criminal and fun pranking. The efforts of student clubs and organizations could take up the mantle of leading the way to good pranking. Parents and administrators would offer their time and support to reiterate the standards of respect for property and others (human and animal) that should be uppermost in any school endeavor. These interventions should in no way be construed to infringe on students’ sense of fun and creativity in coming up with their own, original pranks. This year’s animal cruelty prank opens up the door to presenting on-site at the high school humane education programs which serve to foster a climate of informed, respectful living. Student groups, parents, administrators and community members would join forces to offer these programs to the entire student body. And would join, I am sure, a long list of many worthy character building initiatives which have been and continue to be offered both formally and informally at the high school. Let’s each of us step forward to help create the kind of moral and enlightened environment that’s needed to support our students’ development of the traits that are so vital to their and future generations’ stewardship of the human and natural world. Now that would be a gift to the graduating seniors. Kathryn Petrillo-Klein Warwick