South Carolina Students Barred from Graduation Ceremony After Pulling Damaging Prank

Some students at a South Carolina high school will not be allowed to walk at the graduation ceremony after they pulled a prank on the school premises that allegedly damaged properties.

More than 30 kids joined the prank at Darlington High School on Thursday, May 12. While there were underclassmen involved, there were also senior students who are set to graduate on May 27.

The kids, however, did more than just a prank because some school properties were vandalized, according to SC Now. Even the principal's office and central offices were not spared from the thrashing made by the students. Some of the kids also allegedly stole items and money thus prompting the school to call the police to conduct an investigation.

In a statement, the Darlington County School District said that those who participated in the prank will be subjected to the school's discipline policy and may be charged with burglary, vandalism and trespassing.

Police Chief Kelvin Washington said that they are closely working with the school officials given the scope of the damage and the number of perpetrators. Some of the students were already suspended or banned from joining senior week. They were also told they cannot join the graduation march.

"It was just a senior prank"

However, some senior students told ABC 15 News that the school principal was trying to make the situation worse when they insisted that they only placed toilet paper and saran wrap around the school. They were simply following the tradition observed at Darlington High School.

Senior high school student Jordan Wilds said the school's ban on the graduation ceremony has robbed the kids and their parents of 12 long years of hard work. Wilds said that some of the students affected have been honor students and student-athletes.

Other students also insisted that someone from the school gave them permission to do the traditional senior prank. They insisted that there is no proof of vandalism or stolen items despite the police report.

Some of the parents have also spoken up about the incident and said that they gave their kids permission to participate in the prank. Though the school officials said the kids trespassed, mom Taisha Rubin belied the claims and said that the parents would not have given their permission if the prank involved breaking into school property.

Mom Kim Britt also said that her daughter never had any disciplinary issues with the school before. She finds the school's punishment "over the top." Britt's sister and kids are driving to South Carolina from Dallas to celebrate the graduation but they will not see her daughter march.

Some of the residents also think that the punishment might affect the senior students' college scholarships. The parents are working out a reverse of the decision to ban the kids.

Cops Called at Graduation Rites After Parents Argued

Meanwhile, the police were also involved in a graduation ceremony at The Lafayette Parish School System in Louisiana. The Advocate reported that three parents fought during the ceremony at J.W. Faulk Elementary School but it was not clear why they had a verbal altercation. Some of the kids were crying following the brawl. The police cited the parents for a misdemeanor.

Parents at the high school graduation in Boston were also caught on video physically fighting each other. According to the viral video, the parents had been arguing about the seats and some of the moms pushed and shoved each other.