Toilet paper belongs in the Bathroom
I would like to begin by saying, as a history major and former social studies teacher I understand the importance of tradition. But some traditions I just don’t get. It should not come as a surprise that I don’t like the homecoming tradition of throwing toilet paper in the trees in front of the HS. I didn’t like it as principal and seven years later my mind hasn’t been changed. I know it is harmless and all in good fun. I also think it should be replaced with something equally as fun. But the lack of respect for the building, the custodians, and our neighbors is something that I don’t condone. What do you think?
Posted in Mike's Musings 15 years, 1 month ago at 5:38 pm. 40 comments
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We know this is a bit delayed, but even the freshman believe that this blog is unnecessary. As the seniors have stated this is a harmless tradition and we look forward to the day when we can take part in this ourselves. It allows the seniors hard work to pay off. We think the parents are getting too worked up with this and when they were kids they probably had traditions too. If anything, it gives school spirit and unites the graduating class. This year when we saw the toilet paper, as freshman, we were exited to see the highschool and be a part of the school tradition. We do feel bad for the custodians but it’s only one day a year and no perminent damage is left. Most of the toilet paper gets washed away anyway. If it comes down to helping the custodians to take it down or taking the tradition away we would rather help the custodians.
A quick response to debbie d. Having children in the high school I know about all of the wonderful organizations and services provided by our students to our community through the Service Center. Come down and visit one day and you will know that our community is greatly served by our high school students through many means. There isn’t a day that goes by (except maybe when they are tping the school) that there aren’t students involved in some kind of activity to help others. They spend their days invovled in “teachable moments”, homecoming is “just for fun”!
I respect your opinion Dr. Nagler, but i just don’t understand why faculty and parents are starting to complain now. Parents are saying that this tradition wasn’t there when they were in high school but traditions do have to start somewhere, don’t they? I would understand if the seniors were destroying the school property then I would understand why people would be upset. However toilet paper is harmless and it does get cleaned up. They’re have been much worse things that happened in our school like the trees getting cut down and painted over the years. The students are just trying to have fun their last year of high school. Both my sisters participated in this during their senior year and it wasn’t a big deal then, so why is it now? Every school has different traditions and toilet papering our school has become one. If students are willing to clean up after they’ve toilet papered the school then why complain? I think that no matter what solutions people come up with this toilet papering the school will stay. If you think toilet papering the school is bad, then what do you classify cutting down the trees and painting them purple as? This is not harmful and there are far more worse things that students could do to the school.
This is something that seniors can look back on and say “wow i had a great senior year”, but if you take that away then what can students say they had fun doing? I mean yeah we have fun pep rallies and good football games, soccer games, etc. but this is something unique that no one else from any other school can say they did which is nice to know. If you start to close campus and stop this tradition then I don’t know what is next. We need to keep this tradition alive and keep the students involved with their school.
I think it is a silly and wasteful tradition that should be replace with something else. How about a contest to see who can come up with the most creatvie idea to showcase school spirit.
A blog, in reality, is a medium through which people can state their own opinion and that seems to be the case throughout this blog. Everyone is going to have different opinions and it particularly depends on which side of the “toilet paper” you are on. If one takes the seniors perspective, they feel entitled to do something that has been done many years beforehand, and while reading through some of the previous posts, they are willing to help clean up after they have “made their mark” their senior year. This is an issue that could be addressed for the future. From the perspective of the district employees, such as the custodians, yes, this tradition can be seen as annoying and time consuming. The custodians in our schools are wonderful people and should be commended for all they do. I can also see the opposing view in which people feel it’s a nuisance and disruptive to the school, to the surroundings and the environment when this tradition takes place. In the end, I’m not sure if there exists one solution that will make everyone happy. What I do know is that my house was tp’ed for the first time this year. I woke up at 1:30 am to teenagers in my front yard throwing toilet paper (although they were keeping the noise level down because they knew I have young children) all over my house. Part of me felt good because my house was “important enough” to be on their list but the story gets even better. That morning, my children were so excited to see the house decorated in the fashion that it was. That afternoon I had them go out and pick up all the toilet paper they could (for a prize of course) and they were ecstatic. When they were done, my son walked into the house…saying that something smells bad. Apparently, while he was picking up the toilet paper, he stepped in some animal poop and then proceeded to track it all through the house!!! Would this have happened if the students hadn’t tp’ed my house? Probably not. But after the fact, it does make for funny story.
My point – if tp’ing is the most harmful thing MHS students do, then maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe some alternative clean up/appreciation should be considered beforehand so that the expectations are clearly stated.
Just my opinion…
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get this kind of student and parent involvement/response for issues that were of a higher importance? All of this time and energy should be put towards something more positive. Everyone feels the need to complain and argue, but very few people have proposed solutions. Let the tradition stay. No matter what we do, not everyone will be happy and there will always be someone who feels the need to express their outrage towards a harmless activity. Also, if this is such an important issue, posts should not become attacks directed at the grammar and education of Mineola students. When this happens, all focus towards the issue is lost and the blog becomes completely unproductive.
I loved the response from Anne M. a parent and Brendan… even as my child has moved forward into college – I still go past the HS on Homecoming Friday Morning to see how the current class has outdone the last on this very special day. I love the homecoming tradition and find nothing wrong with it. As the students have made mention – they are not cutting anything down, they are not writing on walls and they are not breaking any windows. What they are doing is very harmless. What I loved best about Mineola and why I have stayed here is the sense of community and the amazing school spirit that every child in this district has towards their schools – whether it is on the elementary level or at the HS level.
Is the toilet paper messy – absolustely – but it is harmless and as one writer mentioned – with one rain storm it is gone.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion – however there are more important things in life to worry and complain about than the toilet paper in the trees at Homecoming.
this blog is so pointless, all the parents who “dont appreciate” the school spirit that is displayed by the senior class should stop complaining, get over it and focus on more important things.
every year the seniors trash the school and for one day a year we get to excercise our school spirit. and honestly, i think its a little childish to be getting so upset over toilet paper. other senior classes have done far worse things than the class of 2010, so i don’t see what the problem is and why this blog is going up now. it only happens a day a year, and the mess is quickly cleaned up. its tradition, its fun and its something seniors can take credit for, and express their pride as mineola high school seniors. nothing is being broken, damaged or abused so i don’t see what the problem is. its just good clean fun that is in effect for a good 24 hours.
I like Debbie D’s idea – I know MHS is a great school with great kids and parents and I think the seniors can come up with a respectable plan that meets the wants of the kids along with respect for their community.
To Mary Parent,
Our grammar is fine, the HS is a GREAT school. I’m really proud to say that I’ve gone there. The only reason the responses from the students may not look like we’re educated enough for you but it’s the internet, we tend to abbreviate things but when we’re in school, we do well. I know that it shouldn’t be that way but when you’re a teen, it’s like “whatever.” If you know what I mean…they’re not stupid.
“What I found the most disturbing about the above students’ entries, aside from the disrespectful tone of the posts, was the atrocious spelling and cringe-inducing grammar contained in their paragraphs.” Yeah well the only reason we have this kind of tone in our posts is because we’re being defensive, you should know how teenagers get when they don’t like something. I’m sure you were the same way when you were young. Not all of the students had a harsh tone in their posts.
“I can only imagine what an outside visitor to this site might think about our children’s character and the quality of education offered by our district”
Honestly, this site…or well this blog with the comments doesn’t really say much about what our school is like. Doesn’t matter what school we’re in, private school or any other public school, students act the same, that’s how teenagers are, and just like the others have said, we’re not destroying anything that will take thousands to repair. You don’t see metal detectors, or 5 security guards in each hall or anything else like that do you? Doesn’t make us bad kids if we don’t talk like 40 year old grown-ups either. Some of you parents are responding as harshly as some of the students so hush now
I say we keep the tradition. It’s harmless, fun, and as long as seniors in the future will help/reward the janitors then it’s all good.
Looking at the big picture, toilet papering the school isn’t really the issue, respect for property and staff is. I suggest a “teachable” moment, since this is viewed as a “Harmless right of passage” why not ask for participants to donate a dollar and a roll of toilet paper, a jar of peaniut butter etc. to a local outreach center who can make use of both. Then each participant also must agree to help take the “decorations” down. This way everyone “wins” the students have their traditions, the school and staff and neighbors are respected and the local outreach also picks up some needed supplies. Perhaps, the class advisors could be responsible for this in conjunction with the SGO. Sure there will be some who don’t pay and still play but I believe in our students and I think the students would welcome the opportunity to have fun and also help others including their custodial staff.
I admire Dr, Nagler for posting this blog and I think it’s great for people to share their different opinions. I don’t think anyone is bashing the students. If the students really want this tradition to continue, the students should help clean up the mess. It would go a long way in showing respect for your school and the other property owners who live around the HS. I find most of the kids at the HS to be polite and caring and I don’t think that most of the rude comments reflect most of the students.
what do you suggest what we should replace this tradition with?
Mary Parent,
I forgot we all had to follow perfect grammar rules on A BLOG.
You need to go have some fun and, loosen up a little.
ANYWAY back to the blog, the REAL issue here is parents commenting on this blog, this tradition doesn’t concern you, since you do not attend this school anymore. If you have a problem with it, don’t allow your child to participate in the activity, stop complaining and making illegimate arguements.
How’s that grammar.
All you other parents should simmer down. This is a really great tradition that should be able to continue througout the years. I want the rest of my children to be able to experience this tradition and no matter how big the mess I will clean up my front lawn with pride. And mary parent above, the children’s spelling is not an indication of their education but rather their outrage that such an issue is a problem; their anger is warranted and they are not going to worry about proper grammar when there are more pressing issues to be concerned about.
First of all i know some of you feel that some of my grade is being rude towards you, but most of us feel like were being attacked for continuing a tradition that has expected of the seniors.
- i know some people say the custodians are doing their job, but i feel if we are to make the mess we should help clean it up. but we cant do that unless you ask. (perhaps we could recycle the toilet paper)
- for those of you saying that the school is trashed, -personally i think it looks beautiful. and im supported by the random people who stop to take pictures of the school when its T.P.ed.
- Plus our school dosnt have many events that evoke our school spirit; save for homecomming decorationg.
I think that the parents are being a little harsh on the students of mineola and should realize that this is a fun activity for them and they mean no harm. As for you “Mary Parent” instead of analyzing our spelling maybe you should have an actual good opinion and a valid point! The students do get the enough education we need from this school, we just all are furious at what the “adults” are saying that we just want to tell you what we think is wrong are last concern is our spelling.
These parents seriously need to calm down.. why r you looking at this tradition in such a negative way.. just get over it!
What I found the most disturbing about the above students’ entries, aside from the disrespectful tone of the posts, was the atrocious spelling and cringe-inducing grammar contained in their paragraphs. I can only imagine what an outside visitor to this site might think about our children’s character and the quality of education offered by our district. In my opinion, this is much more upsetting than the issue of toilet paper.
As a Mineola family, this was our second homecoming weekend with a senior student, and football player in the High School. During both weekends, the tradition of toilet papering the school, and our home has helped add to the excitement and has made these weekends some of the most memorable for our family. I believe that once Dr. Nagler’s children are of high school age he will realize that this is exactly what you hope your children are doing.
It is harmless fun that promotes great camaraderie and school spirit. I totally agree with “Michelle” and “just a senior” I can’t imagine what else I would want my 17 year old son to be engaged in on homecoming weekend.
We hosted the football team for their pasta dinner homecoming night. Even guests from outside of Mineola commented on how polite the entire team was. It filled me with great pride to have them at our home. These are great kids, polite kids, with good intentions. They are not looking to cause trouble, just the opposite actually.
Our front lawn was covered with toilet paper that morning and we were thrilled. The more toilet paper they used, the better. I waited up to hear the girls outside my bedroom window and was amazed at how fast they moved. I made a special trip to the High School to take pictures and was disappointed that it was almost all cleaned up (my senior drives so I didn’t get the early morning view). Homecoming weekend is a time of pride and excitement. I am thrilled to have my family be a part of such a great tradition. It’s what gives Mineola a strong sense of community, and pride in where we live.
i don’t understand why all of a sudden this tradition has become a big issue. both my brothers participated in this tradition and their grades did worse things, like cutting down trees,etc. Its not like we are acting like crazy people who go around bashing cars and spray painting the walls of our school. The seniors are just trying to have a little fun. this is a unique tradition that has been going on for years and years. This is a time for the graduating class to unite together and show spirit and appreciation of their past high school years.
I know im only a sophomore, but i want this tradition to last so that when I’m a senior in 2 years that i can do this too, and so that the future graduating classes of MHS has this fun memory.
And by the way, for those adults who think we are rude kids, we aren’t!!!… we all just have different opinions and want to share them, and this is mine!!!!
….i agree with “just a senior”…the school does look beautiful =]
and I agree with michelle, we should pay attention to more important things like the budget instead of toilet paper ruining our school? Im sure if all you “parents” were in high school you would be upset if the school ended a great tradition before your senior year.
few people get to look back to their high school years and actually remember a lot of great times that they’ve had. Year by year, more traditions are being taken away. The school is even thinking about closing campus, which is the worst thing that they could possibly do, and now taking away the tradition before homecoming to decorate the school? I probably would stop caring about school if campus closed, the homecoming tradition was banned and now school is going to be year round? what’s there to look forward to? nothing! kids cant work to their full potential knowing that they wont have a summer vacation, I know I wont. and senior year wont be the senior year I was looking forward to as a freshman… You are taking away the enjoyment of coming to high school where kids will remember this as the best years of their lives.
dear “parents”,
all of you should really get your facts straight before you post ignorant comments like the ones above. nobody has ever asked the senior class to clean up the toilet paper, and its never been a concern before this blog post popped out of nowhere. i highly doubt that the senior class would be opposed to providing the janitors with refreshments, or even giving them a helping hand.
also, since when did the school look “awful” for “weeks and months” after the “trashing” occurred. maybe you should drive by this high school you act so concerned about to see that mere fragments of toilet paper remain, and usually dissipate within days.
honestly the majority of statements made by the “parents” are way out of line, and are just irrational assumptions. i guess im blind when it comes to eggs, because I sure as hell didn’t see any. also if shaving creme was such a hazard, i doubt you would douse your legs or face in it every time you shaved.
in the end things can be and GET a lot worse. we all know this, and if anyone our superintendent and “concerned” parents should realize it. its honestly a slap in the face to the senior class for this to even be an issue. if i’m not mistaken past grades have set off fireworks, chopped down trees, released live animals, and thrown eggs. for us to get chastised for using toilet paper and sidewalk chalk is just ridiculous.
think before you post next time
To all the parents that have been bashing our tradition shame on you. You all know that when you went to high school or college that there was one tradition where you felt like glorious, victorious and like a bunch of rebels. The senior class has many traditions and homecoming TP’ing is just one of them. Toilet paper gets washed away in one rain storm and does not stay in the trees for months. My parents find the tradition to show a sense of class unity let alone school spirit. My father went to MHS and he said that they had a bunch of traditions back then as well. For the seniors to take one night out of the school year and make our school look festive for homecoming without breaking, burning, cutting, or shattering anything should be a blessing. Most kids aren’t mature enough to refrain from doing some of the above. Like “the class of 2010″ said classes before us have cut down trees…i dont think that using toilet paper to decorate the school is on the same level as that. That is vandalizing not the toilet paper. No one sees spray paint on the walls, teachers cars being egged, shaving cream on the windows. But when i get off the bus that friday morning every year i look foward to seeing Class of 2008, Class of OH 9, and 2010 party til the end. Its an excitement to see that the kids in our school rally together for one of their last hoorah’s before their final days at MHS are done. So to all the parents one last time, i think you should be happy that we are just toilet papering the school. Be proud of the school spirit shown, dont put us down for it.
we are not rude were just kids with opinions, like you are a bunch of “adults” with opinions. toilet paper is toilet paper it pretty much dissapeared when it rained anyway. as for the eggs and shaving cream that never happend with us so that needs to be realized. were just having fun like all the other HS seniors did and continuing with “tradition.” i don’t see the problem. helping is not an issue and like every other student said, i never heard a word out of the custodians complaining and i never heard a word out of the places around the high school. and why after all these years of it going on, this year it has to be made into a problem. if you havent noticed every kid that enters mineola hs waitssss for the day they can tp the school and have good fun.
“The HS looks awful for weeks and months after this “tradition”.” parent 1
I think the HS looks beautiful
The HS is beautiful =)
Well…this blog certainly got a lot of response!!!! As a kid, my brothers’ friends often toliet papered our house and I found it to be a lot of fun! However as a parent now responsible for a house, I think I would look at it differently!
I wouldn’t call it vandalizing, I mean, even Mr. Escobar calls it decorating. It’s not like we’re breaking anything. This tradition doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate our school, or that we’re selfish, or a bunch of kids that are going to end up in jail or run into a trouble, and hey, the custodians are getting paid anyway. Sure we should find a way to appreciate them but it’s not like we don’t give a damn and want to destroy the school or anything. If that’s what students were planning to do, windows would have been shattered, or a fire would have gotten started or something else…. not that I want any of that to happen of course. But hey, you parents, and Dr. are old so you wouldn’t understand
I also agree with Sami and Amanda, “What would you consider as a good tradition?, if this tradition is so harmless and fun what is the problem?” I bet there was a time you grown-ups have done something similar before as a kid or wanted to.
“I’d like to add that I HOPE rudeness and disrespect to a person of authority, namely your Superintendent, is not another MHS “tradition”- another parent.
Oh it’s not. Spend time in our school for a week to get to know how the kids are like before you make that assumption just because of our tradition. We’re all good kids, we get along well with our teachers.
“The HS looks awful for weeks and months after this “tradition”.” parent 1
I think the HS looks beautiful
I believe this tradition started way before Mr. Escobar. I think it is a great idea to go inside and decorate the school (but not with toilet paper). If the seniors who make the mess are also willing to help clean it up, that would be a really great start. It would show a willingness on the part of the student body to realize that someone has to clean up that mess and that mess lasts for a long time. It’s not just about the custodians. By the way, this tradition has now also included shaving cream and eggs. Have you ever thought about the property owners who live across the street and the businesses around our school? The mess goes on to their property and they have to clean it up. I’m sure they love your “tradition”. I think it’s great that there is so much school spirit and I want to see that continue. I just think there are other avenues and at the very least, the kids should clean up the mess they make.
“Sorry, I dont think that vandalizing your school is a right”
i forgot that toilet paper stained the school and left its mark forever, because last time i checked outside almost all of it is gone.
The highschool looks awful because it isnt a pretty building, not because of the 2 strands of toilet paper left in the tree. What new tradition would you like? Would you like us to cut down a tree like classes have done before? No we didn’t think so. Everyone should stop taking this all so seriously and look at the good in this situation. Things could be alot worse and some parents drove by that friday morning just to see how it looked because even they know about the tradition. We thought being a superindentent meant being busy with REAL problems other than toilet paper. Problems like the BUDGET and things that actually affect the growth of our school district. You should have the most pride in “your” school and shouldnt be posting negative things to make us feel like we did something horrible, when we were just keeping up with the traditions.
dear parent,
this tradition is something seniors do every year and we dont mind if we have to clean it up and help custodians. no one asked us to help and we would gladly help out. This tradition you are complaining about has been going on since mr escobar has become principal. Maybe if you dont want us trashing the outside of the school let us go inside and decorate the inside because that way no other people get their property “messed up”. The janitors are well aware of this tradition and so far no complaints. We agree with the post that kris made because we would be very willing to give the custodians breakfast and whatever they need. What would you consider as a good tradition?, if this tradition is so harmless and fun what is the problem? There is a lot of school spirit during this day including all underclassmen and faculty look forward to homecoming. So thanks for trying to take our “tradition” away.
I agree with the other “adult” who posted and I’d like to add that I HOPE rudeness and disrespect to a person of authority, namely your Superintendent, is not another MHS “tradition”….All I can say is…. at least he got the dialogue going! Everyone has a right to their own opinion but to those of you who chose your words so carelessly….good luck in the “real” world after you graduate! Try telling your “boss” to go find a new job when he suggests things be done differently and you don’t agree! I have a feeling it’s you who’ll do the walking.
It’s obvious that the above posts are written by students who consider this tradition a time-honored right.Sorry, I dont think that vandalizing your school is a right. If you speak to alumns who attended MHS way back when, this “tradition” did not always exist and no one seems to know when it started. I do not believe that any other high schools around here tolerate this. It costs time and money to clean up your “tradition”. Asking Dr. Nagler to be kind and help clean it up indicates the selfishness of your statements. If the students insist on this “tradition” why don’t we make a new one where the students have to clean it up? The HS looks awful for weeks and months after this “tradition”. The toilet paper still hangs in the trees and it lays all over the property. I think school spirit is great and I would love to see a new tradition that doesn’t trash the school.
I agree that this is a harmless tradition. (There are far worse things that could be happening). However, the custodians do hours of work to clean up this tradition. Perhaps, as a nice gesture, the senior class could provide just a few pizzas or bagels to the custodians on this day as a sign of their appreciation.
I agree with everyone above me. It is a tradition for the senior class and the celebration of homecoming. It shouldn’t be changed. I don’t get why it’s a problem now considering it’s been going on for years.
are you serious???
you complain about it, but then you say its “harmless and all in good fun”. stick to your argument, and post a blog when you actually have a valid point.
or just go to a school where this wont be an issue.
this is a ridiculous blog! This has been a tradition at Mineola high school for so many years and you think you could change things now?! i dont think so. Yeah we all have our opinions but i do think your the only one that disagrees with this! This is a chance for the seniors to feel there glory for there last year of high school! The fact that you think its so disrepectful and harmful in anyway is stupid! If you really have an issue with it you should go to another school where there aren’t any traditions so you wont have something to complain about. Why in our right minds would we change something thats been going on for so many years to something else, when cleary it hasnt been a problem.. ever! If it was such a inconvience they would have asked us not to do it but it hasnt been! if you think its harmful to the custodians why dont you been kind and help clean it up! this is not going to change no matter what you do! the toliet paper was just a symbol of homecoming and the senior class, its considered school spirit! I think as a high school we should have school spirit dont you think?! you should have thought twice before you posted this blog! have a nice day!
well…thats too bad…its a tradition that is fun and couldnt be replaced with something else. It’s the one tradition that actually stuck here in Mineola High School. Like seriously…whats the harm??? Its toliet paper! What are we supposed to do instead?? Throw the teachers desk on the front lawn.. worse things would happpen. if you dont like it than leave mr. ex history teacher!!!!!!!!
if you have a problem with mineola tradition – go somewhere else!