Most readers have backed those Warilla High School parents outraged with a student survey calling on votes for the “biggest bitch” and the student “most likely to be gay”.
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But a fair amount commenting on the Illawarra Mercury story online, claimed there had been an “over-reaction” to the year 10 formal “joke awards” by an increasingly “snowflake society”.
“Are you f***ing kidding me? It’s a joke! People take things way to seriously now. Glad this wasn’t around at our formal,” one reader wrote.
Another posted “I was voted most likely to end in gaol [sic] when I was at school. It’s all a bit of fun, lighten up ppl [sic].”
One reader said the practice of students giving these type of awards to each other had been going on “since schools first opened”, and we should “just let kids be kids”.
But this argument didn’t wash with many others, who were “disgusted” students were encouraged to vote online for who they thought was most likely to end up in jail, the dumbest blonde and who had the “best/biggest boobs” and “best/biggest ass”.
“I’m sorry but this perpetuates bullying of any form. Disgusting,” the reader wrote.
Others were similarly distressed and called for those parents who supported the student-led poll to “check their morals”.
“Sorry but parents who are so self absorbed they don’t teach their kids about respect and what bullying and discrimination looks like should be ashamed”.
The post added “for these young people to think this is “a joke” are seriously in need of humor training. It is never “funny” or a “joke” when it’s at another’s expense.”
Another reader said the whole episode was “absolutely disgusting”.
“I hope that those involved realise what an embarrassment you have caused a truly admirable high school, not to mention the outright bullying/nastiness you are inflicting on some of your school cohort.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Warilla High School had no direct involvement in the awards and have addressed the issue internally.
But some readers suggested the NSW Education Department should change its policy and encourage schools to run year 10 formal events in the future, to avoid this type of scenario happening again.