<p>I agree with Chedva. Context and the times must be considered. Given the unfortunate reality of school shootings, simulating one and telling kids it is real, is instilling a lot of trauma. A prank should not instill that level of trauma. A prank is like short sheeting a bed…something that is amusing or out of the ordinary, playful. A prank that teachers conduct should be more of a practical joke (“I’m giving you ten hours of homework tonight…” and later…Just kidding!) A prank should be to “trick” the kids. It is meant to be a joke of sorts. If it is a campfire type thing, then it is more like ghost stories about the boogeyman or some such. I don’t think a so called prank that simulates real criminal behavior that would instill very real fear for one’s life, is appropriate ever, let alone in a school situation with adults being the ones to pull this so called “prank.”</p>
<p>I’m having a hard time imagining the teachers sitting around and thinking up this particular “prank.” I’m having a harder time still to think that the others on the faculty team attending this field trip all went along with it and that nobody questioned the appropriateness of this prank. I have no problem that they were trying to do some practical jokes with the kids on this kind of camping trip. But I can’t imagine the thinking of this idea, and thinking it would be amusing.</p>