High School Students Stick 35,000 Forks in Ground
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:50 pm
North Penn High School students trying to revive the venerable custom of the senior prank stuck about 35,000 plastic forks into two grassy areas at the school in time for school Monday morning.
Even some teachers were impressed.
Senior Tom McDonald said he felt called upon to do something because there was no senior prank last year, so he and others worked on the plan since the beginning of the school year.
McDonald said the group set about collecting 30,000 forks - a target they ultimately passed - during lunch time and from businesses. McDonald said he sent out a phony date in February - partly to get recruits and also to throw off school officials. Then there was the matter of figuring out how to get everyone in and out without getting caught after the effort began at midnight Sunday.
"Imagine coordinating 50 men in 10 cars going in different routes to the school. It was a strategic battle plan," McDonald said.
Getting out proved to be more difficult than getting in. Police arrived after about an hour and a half of work and took 10 teens, including McDonald, into custody.
"They were very mad because they thought we were vandalizing the school," McDonald said. "Once we told them what we were doing, they said they never laughed so hard in their life."
McDonald speculated that authorities took the event in such good humor because it didn't do any damage and it was cleaned up by 11 a.m. Monday.
"I thought it was very wonderful. It was well-coordinated. It brought us a moment of laughter," teacher Tom Lemon said.
Even some teachers were impressed.
Senior Tom McDonald said he felt called upon to do something because there was no senior prank last year, so he and others worked on the plan since the beginning of the school year.
McDonald said the group set about collecting 30,000 forks - a target they ultimately passed - during lunch time and from businesses. McDonald said he sent out a phony date in February - partly to get recruits and also to throw off school officials. Then there was the matter of figuring out how to get everyone in and out without getting caught after the effort began at midnight Sunday.
"Imagine coordinating 50 men in 10 cars going in different routes to the school. It was a strategic battle plan," McDonald said.
Getting out proved to be more difficult than getting in. Police arrived after about an hour and a half of work and took 10 teens, including McDonald, into custody.
"They were very mad because they thought we were vandalizing the school," McDonald said. "Once we told them what we were doing, they said they never laughed so hard in their life."
McDonald speculated that authorities took the event in such good humor because it didn't do any damage and it was cleaned up by 11 a.m. Monday.
"I thought it was very wonderful. It was well-coordinated. It brought us a moment of laughter," teacher Tom Lemon said.