Right: Dr Peter Casey (shown talking with students at St Patrick's College, Ballarat) is quoted as saying that "the media is in the business of finding a story".Arguments suggesting muck-up day is not a significant problem in Australian schools
1. Muck-up day student pranks no longer occur in most schools
It is generally claimed that muck-up day is no longer tolerated in a majority of Victorian schools.
When the Ballarat newspaper, The Courier, contacted Ballarat secondary schools, the one-time Year 12 tradition was described as 'out-of-date', 'irresponsible', and 'inappropriate'. The various schools spoken to claimed that muck-up day has now been replaced with school assemblies, valedictory dinners, and low-key dress-up days.
Damascus College acting principal Tony Barrett said, 'It's out-of-date and I think the whole community has really moved on from that idea of kids mucking up.'
There was also now 'no such thing as a muck-up day' at Ballarat Secondary College Barkly campus, the campus principal, Sue Mills, stated. Similarly, Mt Clear College principal Linda Flynn said the school had not supported a 'traditional' muck-up day for years. Ballarat Christian College secondary co-ordinator Chris Aiton added, 'We do have end-of-year celebrations but in no way are they considered to be muck-up day.'
Camberwell High School assistant principal Maureen Salter has noted that she met with the principals of nearby schools, including Hawthorn Secondary College, Kew High School and Balwyn High, to instigate a strict 'no muck-up day' schedule in 2008. Ms Salter said, 'Last year we had a similar policy, perhaps not quite as strict as this year. It's common sense that we're keen for them [senior students] to end happily and positively and that they're ready for the exams that follow.'
2. Incidents of significant misbehaviour are very few
It has been noted that the number of violent or otherwise unsuitable incidents as part of muck-up day are very few.
Michelle Green, chief executive of the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, has stated in an opinion piece published in The Herald Sun on October 23, 2008, 'We have not researched the number of incidents reported compared with past years but they appear to be less than a few years ago.
Almost all independent schools prepare thoroughly to ensure that the last week of the year is tightly structured with parents and students being well-informed about the program and the school's expectations. Many schools follow the same format each year to establish a tradition and to reduce the opportunity for out-of-hand creativity by students.
Often the year 11 students take part as observers so they know exactly what to expect the next year.
One student commenting on the incidents at the end of 2008 noted, '"The media seem to be the only people making muck up day such a big deal, therefore police want to take drastic action. Yes, [some students at one school] may have stepped over the line, but what about the other schools who celebrate their end of year, responsibly.'
Another student made a similar observation, 'My experience of muck-up day has been quite pleasant. I have vivid memories as an excited Year 7 watching the Year 12s on their last day arrive dressed up in fire trucks and decorated cars. The Year 12s at my school have always been well behaved and consistently follow the school regulations when it comes to 'muck up day'. I don't think final day fun should be banned as Year 12 is a lot of hard work and dedication and I think they should be able to express their happiness with each other by dressing up and having a bit of harmless fun. Students should be allowed to celebrate on the school property in a safe environment that is supervised by teachers. By doing this students are not endangering themselves and the broader community and things will not get out of hand. It should also be made known to the students what the rules are and what is expected of them. It is upsetting that most schools are abiding by their school final day rules, whilst others have ruined the chances for 'muck up day' for the future Year 12s.'
3. Many schools use the end of year 12 as an opportunity to promote safe and alcohol-responsible behaviour
Many schools use end-of-year student gatherings and assemblies as an opportunity to promote socially responsible behaviour, especially in relation to alcohol consumption.
The documentary, Muck-Up Day, was produced by the TAC in 2000 to highlight the relationship between driver inexperience, speed and road trauma. Students are given the opportunity to watch the documentary at least once, and consider the issues it raises. The responses are written into each student's workbook, and shared later as part of class discussion.
Research has indicated that one of the key reasons behind speeding is that young drivers are simply unaware of the risks associated with such behaviour. This has been highlighted in many casualty crashes, where drivers were over-confident in terms of the capacity of their vehicles to handle certain conditions.
Schools recognise the particular stresses senior students face as they finish their final year. They also acknowledge that these pressures are being confronted at the same time as these students are given a level of freedom they have not previously experienced. Thus their last days at school represent an invaluable and final opportunity to educate these students in safe and appropriate behaviour.
4. Muck-up day misbehaviour is largely a media-created phenomenon
It has been claimed that the media has played a role in effectively promoting 'muck up day' activities through the manner in which it reports them. It has further been claimed that such media coverage is often exaggerated and that the controlled behaviour of the majority senior students is ignored.
The principal of St Patricks College, Ballarat, Dr Peter Casey, has stated, 'That's where I say the media is in the business of finding a story, and therefore they keep looking round and round and round until they find something - all you need is one student to make everyone's day.
But that's what gets all the publicity. In the case of Xavier - we've got 400 secondary schools in Victoria - one school gets all the attention. And what's happening at all the other schools? We don't know.'
Dr Casey has argued that much of the problem can be attributed to annual media coverage - and that a media blackout would assist in defusing the pressure on students to outdo the students of previous years.
Dr Casey has stated, 'I just think the absence of reporting of muck up day would help the schools with their approach to zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior, because it takes away the pressure from the kids to be seen to be doing something silly.'
The same point has been made at greater length by Michelle Green in an opinion piece published in The Herald Sun on October 23, 2008. Ms Green, chief executive of the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, states, 'Some principals and teachers say the media doesn't help because it sets the wrong tone by calling the celebrations "muck-up day", a phrase coined by students but which they say encourages bad behaviour.
Let's pause and count the number of schools around the country, multiplied by the number of students in their final year and divide the number of end-of-year farewells that go wrong.
There are not that many. Yes, one example of bad behaviour is too much and is distressing for all concerned, particularly innocent bystanders who are frightened by crowds of noisy kids and suffer damage to their property.
But there are many more schools and final year students who have happy and memorable rites of passage.'
5. Most schools now mark the end of year 12 in more positive ways
A majority of schools now claim that 'muck-up day' has been replaced by a variety of more positive activities.
McCarthy Catholic College, Emu Plains, has indicated that it encouraged its Year 12 students to thank the community as part of a new muck up day tradition. Instead of doing the usual muck up day activities, Year 12 co-ordinator Grant McKirdy suggested a different approach.
Mr McKirdy stated, 'The traditional muck up day can get out of hand at times, so we're trying to start a new tradition ... the students [are] handing out plastic roses with a message to the community and the school ribbon attached.' Commuters reacted positively after students at Emu Plains and Penrith stations, Penrith Plaza, Nepean Square, the Lennox Centre and the Penrith Markets, handed them roses as they emerged from morning trains.
Thornbury High School also no longer allows the old style muck-up day. Students instead do supervised activities, including a formal dance and a beach picnic. Similarly, Bairnsdale Secondary Roweville Secondary College's October 31, 2008 newsletter included an article which stated, 'College principal Jim Rowley has said that his College's students had a 'final day' breakfast cooked by teachers before a motivational speech and special assembly.
With much media attention focussing on incidents of inappropriate student behaviour relating to so-called Year 12 "Muck-Up Day", it is with a great deal of pleasure and pride that I can report that our Year 12 "Celebration Day" was an absolute success. A fantastic morning of fun and entertainment was had by all students and staff who attended, with not one single incident of concern or inappropriate behaviour. Students were served breakfast by their Year 12 Coordinators and Ms McMaster. They dressed up in a wonderful range of fancy dress costumes, participated in games and activities on the giant slide and jumping castle, signed the Year 12 banner, had photo shoots aplenty with each other and their teachers, engaged in a "scavenger hunt" and finished up with a fancy dress parade and awards. The local police, who joined the students for breakfast, commented on how great the morning was and how much the students appeared to be enjoying themselves.'