Schoolies Week

Aliantha · 11-23-2008, 05:16 PM

Traditionally in Australia, at the end of year 12, high school graduates head off to the coast for a week of celebrations. This is all fine, except that large amounts of alcohol are involved along with drugs and violence which sometimes leads to arrests for kids as young as 16 and 17. If these kids are looking at a career in some professions, an arrest can be disasterous of course, but possibly less disasterous than leaving them out on the street to get involved in fights which in the past have led to deaths and permanent disablement of schoolies.

Add to the mix, a bunch of slightly older kids (mostly male) known as 'toolies' who travel to the hot spots to either join the party, or do the business of buying alcohol for underage drinkers and/or supplying drugs.

So far on the Gold Coast, which is a mecca for schoolies celebrations, there have been almost 50 school leavers arrested, and the celebrations only started formally on Saturday. Today is Monday.

I intend to try and persuade my kids not to join in these particular celebrations when they finish high school, although considering the fact that we live in the Gold Coast shire, it might be difficult. After watching a news cast this morning, Aden said he wouldn't be interested in going to schoolies week, but that could change between now and then. Personally, I think I'd be willing to fund just about any other holiday for that week just to get him away from the danger.

Do all high school leavers have these sorts of celebrations at the end of their schooling? As a parent or citizen, what are your thoughts?

11-23-2008, 05:16 PM	#1
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Schoolies Week Traditionally in Australia, at the end of year 12, high school graduates head off to the coast for a week of celebrations. This is all fine, except that large amounts of alcohol are involved along with drugs and violence which sometimes leads to arrests for kids as young as 16 and 17. If these kids are looking at a career in some professions, an arrest can be disasterous of course, but possibly less disasterous than leaving them out on the street to get involved in fights which in the past have led to deaths and permanent disablement of schoolies. Add to the mix, a bunch of slightly older kids (mostly male) known as 'toolies' who travel to the hot spots to either join the party, or do the business of buying alcohol for underage drinkers and/or supplying drugs. So far on the Gold Coast, which is a mecca for schoolies celebrations, there have been almost 50 school leavers arrested, and the celebrations only started formally on Saturday. Today is Monday. I intend to try and persuade my kids not to join in these particular celebrations when they finish high school, although considering the fact that we live in the Gold Coast shire, it might be difficult. After watching a news cast this morning, Aden said he wouldn't be interested in going to schoolies week, but that could change between now and then. Personally, I think I'd be willing to fund just about any other holiday for that week just to get him away from the danger. Do all high school leavers have these sorts of celebrations at the end of their schooling? As a parent or citizen, what are your thoughts? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

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