Hoax turns ugly...Teachers tell students their classmates are dead

That's disgusting and cruel.

I actually did have a very close friend pass away in high school (not from a car accident) and found out about it at school from my english teacher a few minutes before they announced it over the loudspeaker. That was, hands down, one of the worst experiences of my life. I can't believe that anyone think that tricking teenagers into thinking their friend are dead is a good idea--and I feel sorry for the kids who are suffering the psychological ramifications of this.

Sometimes teens need a wake up call. Adults (parents, teachers, counselors) can talk all day and not be heard. (You remember. . . don't you? ) The BEST kind of education is emotion-based. This lesson, although upsetting and cruel, (I'll admit it) definately got the point across. With graduation and the accompanying parties, this was the perfect time of year to demonstrate the dangers of drinking and driving. Would you rather our kids be scared straight - or dead wrong? Something to think about.

How on earth did they think this would end well?!

This year the school did a senior prank on their students.

I do not agree at all on the "shock" method as something to get your point out there.
It is stupid to think that shocking people will bring any kind of real understanding of the repercussions of any of their actions. all that brings is fear, and fear does not bring anything productive in humans.
If you want to teach and get your point across, talk to them as real people, not as kids, be honest, talk the truth, even if it sounds bad.
Teachers and old generations have no idea how to interact with young people, that is why you see no communication from parents, teachers, etc reaching young people.
If you think fear solves anything, think 9/11 and the whole bull about iraq, you still think that fear works in any positive way?
Think!

Read this in the paper this morning. The best part is the comment by the counselor: "They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized," said guidance counselor Lori Tauber. I think there are better ways to teach kids that don't involve trauma.

I live in Las Vegas and they actually do this every year at almost every high school in the valley. Then they take everyone out to see a mock car crash where we see our 'dead' classmates strewn across the cars with blood and gashes in their bodies. It is very lifelike and they proceed to tell us about the dangers of drinking and driving. Maybe this was just the first year they did this type of education program at that school and they did not know what to expect. Though I can see why some people may think it is emotionally harsh, I think it is necessary to hit home about the dangers of drinking and driving.

And to call this program a hoax is pretty rediculous to me. If you actually experience it, there is so much more to it than merely the dead classmates, and the police are not trying to pull one over on the students. Who ever wrote this is just very misinformed about this program.

Trauma based mind control is what this is just by reading the blurb. For whatever reason they did this, it's just training people how to think nothing more. It's morally wrong.

At my high school we did a dramatization. They brought wreckage to the front lot and some of us sat inside and were "dead." Then everyone was instructed to come out and watch the ambulance go through a normal accident clean-up. It was clearly a demonstration with the same powerful message, although any excuse is a good excuse for hysterics at some point in your life.

I think it's fucking hilarious... but had that been done to me whilst I was in school, perhaps I would have gone "berserk".

I only wish someone had captured the reaction on their cell phones. If I were the students that were supposedly dead, I would have thought it a good gauge to tell who your real friends were based on their reactions. So it wasn't a lose lose situation.

They did the same scenario at my high school with the car crash and ambulance and they also showed us a pretty graphic film on the horrors of drinking and driving. The film I felt really got the point across. As for this, I think it was really unnecessary. We had a few students from our school die during my 4 years at high school and it was really traumatic for the whole student body. I would be very angry if someone told me someone died, got me all worked up and then a few hours later said No we were lying to you but don't drink and drive. Did they really expect the students to react different then they did?

its shocking that the police think this would make any sense or be respectful or have any sort of positive impact whatsoever...

"Look at what happens when we tell a whole HIGH SCHOOL full of TEENS that their FRIENDS are DEAD. It's gonna be hilarious folks, stick around for Pranks Stunts and Bloopers!"

I could see this being mainstream television in the near future.

I find it hard to believe a group of adults got together and thought this was a good idea. Where was the voice of reason here? Even worse they got the HWY Patrol to play along.

Way to teach teenagers to distrust their teachers and counselors...

It's just sick and wrong and it disgusts me. I can hear them now....."we did it for your own good, you should thank us", hogwash. Sick and wrong.

Bad Idea:
"let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance" FDR Inaugural Address, 1933.
Apparently, 75 years later, some people still dont understand. Instead of educating these kids the dangers of alcohol, its effects; short and long term, the Highway Patrol decided to execute a "shocking exercise", as they call it, to put fear into their heads. I dont know about anyone else, but i can overcome fear. But being educated about the risks associated with alcohol, then kids can make an educated decision when it comes to saying no, or staying within your limits.

Good idea. Just so they feel the pain once, and to realize what it's like. What they take for granted (drinking and driving, and coming home alive)... well they won't anymore.

They have been doing the same program at my old high school for years. Last year a week after three kids died in a drunk driving accident. It doesn't work.

they should us this tyep of scare tackit for every thing hey ur child was kid napped by a sexul preditur u should of keept a better eye on her whil she was on the inter net, ur parents are dead u should of aprsheated them more,

they did something similar to this at my school. it wasnt nearly as drastic, though. it's called shattered dreams.

Yea, ours did Shattered Dreams too, but we all knew who was participating the morning of by friends... Turned into a dramatic fest with parents and news casters...

It's a gift in disguise and makes them appreciate what they have and had.

The things teenagers do to adults are far worse and have no point and nothing of value. This actually shares with them the pain of lose while they don't lose a single thing.

No one was hurt and I think if anyone is acting wrongly it's the ones that the hoax was put upon. They didn't lose anything and gained much.

Wow! this is really f@!&#d up. I would be furious.

The end result wouldn't be me not wanting to drink and drive. The end result would be me hating the cops and the school for going along with it. Seriously, no adult authority figures could see any possible implications?

If they are that way now they were that way before. This event wouldn't cause that.

See what happens when you put crazy people in charge. Ahh, Bush comes to mind.

What a horrible idea!

Terrible terrible terrible,

This is such a sad example...

Is there really no better way to teach kids something...

This is real tough. Mind overload. There are various ways to view this; all have merit.

Good points: ButterupButtercup, Seafarer, metermaid6, databaze.

I can't see how lying to them could possibly do any good.This is only going to make students hesitant to trust authority figures.

everybody associated with this disgusting travesty should be fired.

Sometimes, the truth hurts a little, but it is a good lesson learned...

this kind of scare tactic is wrong. what if a student walks in with a gun filled with blanks and started shooting off blank rounds and scared the livin daylights out of everyone but then stopped and said, " hey, i just want to make a point that there needs to be a bit more security if not a watchful eye from all of our peers to ensure the safety of all at school. just kidding but i hope i made my point." this kid would be jailed for a long time. what makes the staff in this school think that this is ok. i've witnessed many premature deaths of loved ones in my young life and the levels of grief one experiences can be traumatic. it sticks with one for life... at least it has with me. this is not right whatsoever.

I had a friend named Ty Rush (no joke) in high school wrap a Datsun 240-Z around a telephone pole so fast that it snapped in half.

That true story didn't stop a lot of people from abusing drugs or alcohol so I doubt that any "fake" one to "scare them straight" would do more than cause some unecessary anguish.

Some people only learn the hard way if at all.

Whatever benefit they would get from the shock of the news would be gone when they found out about the lie.

All this does is to create anger towards the teachers and the law enforcement community...sure it might help scare them but all it does is create anger. They need to show teens real cases, what really happened, as close as home to possible.

Shock therapy might work sometimes, but this is clearly unacceptable mental and emotional distress.

I see very mixed responses to this. I can see both sides of the debate.