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A '''school prank''' is a [[prank]] pulled at [[school]] by a [[student]] or group of students, usually on another student or even a [[teacher]].  School pranks can vary in their intent, elaborateness, and severity.  They may be performed as an expression of dominance in the social hierarchy, to demonstrate physical or intellectual prowess, as an act of revenge, or even as an expression of affection.

Pranks can be either friendly or hostile actions.  In [[primary education]], pranks are commonly perpetrated by [[Bullying|bullies]] seeking to dominate less powerful children.  Among friends, particularly males, pranks are often good natured acts intended to foster physical and/or emotional bonding.  Depending on the intent and the personality of the recipient, these pranks may even be appreciated by the victims and taken as a challenge to respond in kind.  

Pranks may be as simple as a physical act perpetrated on impulse or elaborate setups involving multiple conspirators.  Pranks are generally frowned upon by school officials and can result in [[punishment (school)|punishment]]. Technically any unconsented contact with the body (unless it falls within a general exception for ordinary conduct) is an [[assault]], but it would only be acted upon if it produces sufficient emotional or physical injury.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Such assault may include [[sexual harassment]] or a [[violent crime]].

==Examples of impromptu pranks==
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==Examples==
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Many, if not all pranks listed here, involving the causing of pain or embarrassment are regarded as [[bullying]] or even [[assault]] and can result in [[punishment (school)|school punishment]] and (in more serious cases) legal punishment. ie, in the United Kingdom amongst other countries, "Mooning" is classed as a sexual offense.

=== Thumbtack ===
A [[thumbtack]] is placed on a chair, with the point upwards, thereby hurting the victim when he/she sits down. [http://forum.caithness.org/archive/index.php/t-2359.html]

===Flat Tire/Flat Foot===
By catching the heel of a victim walking in front, the victim may be caused to stumble, or their shoe may come off. Stepping on the rear portion of the shoe as the foot lifts and thereby removing it is also a "Heels" variant known as a "Flat Tire". A variant is to kick their heel forwards as it lifts.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Hertz Donut===  	 
This prank fools the victim into giving their permission to get punched. The prankster approaches the chosen target with a closed [[donut]] or pastry box and asks "Would you like a hertz donut?" If the target says yes, the prankster then strikes them in the arm without any warning and asks "Hurts, don't it?"(pronounced "donut").<ref name=wedgies/>

===Kick me===
Writing phrases such as "Kick me" on the back of the victim where he cannot see it. Now this prank is more often done with [[post-it note]]s or other stickers.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Chinese burn===
This is a prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing [[friction burn]]s. Known primarily as "Indian burn" in the USA. Also called an ''Indian sunburn'' or ''Indian rugburn.''

===Mooning===
{{Main|mooning}}
"Mooning" is displaying one's bared buttocks to someone, so-called because the buttocks are generally not suntanned, so purportedly resemble a full moon.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} It is commonly performed out of windows of moving buses and cars.

===Nipple cripple===
Also known as a "[[nipple]] twist", "nipple gripple", "[[tit]]ty twister", or a "([[purple]]) nurple", it is the act of taking a person's nipple between the thumb and forefinger and then twisting it around roughly.  On [[August 8]], [[2005]], David Thumler, a 15-year-old living in [[Gold Hill, Oregon|Gold Hill]], [[Oregon]] , was charged with a [[misdemeanor]] for doing this act to 13-year-old Matthew Cox. Thumler was fined [[United States dollar|US$]]67 and given three days of [[community service]].<ref name=wedgies/>

===Noogies===
Sometimes called a ''Dutch Rub'', ''Monkey Scrub'' or ''Russian Haircut'', this is done by putting the victim in a [[headlock]] and using the middle knuckles of the fore and middle fingers to cause friction by rubbing them across the surface of the skull quickly and firmly. This usually only causes minor skin irritation.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Pantsing===
{{Main|Debagging}}
Pantsing (also debagging, depantsing, shanking, skanking or dacking in Australia and kegging or cacking in England) is the act of pulling down a person's pants (trousers in England) without the person's consent, and without their approval. The most common method is to sneak up behind the intended victim, grab the pants', shorts', or skirt's waistband, and apply a quick downward tug before the victim is aware of the "debagger's" presence.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Towel snap===
Also known as a "Rat-Tail" or "Rat-Tailing", the prankster twists a towel (typically dampened to hold its shape) along the diagonal, making it into a [[whip]] with a towel corner at the tip. The prankster "snaps" the towel as if cracking a whip, striking the victim with the tip of the towel and causing pain.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Shoe laces===
Tying a victim's shoe laces together, or sometimes to a convenient object such as a chair leg, is a common prank. Less common is cutting the laces while the victim is seated and distracted. There is a common variation of this, in which the victim's shoelaces are tied to a heavy object, and then they are caused to run, making them trip.<ref name=wedgies/>

===Short sheeting===
A prank done at boarding schools, camps or on excursions where children sleep in full beds (also common in the military). It is achieved by untucking the foot end of the bottom bedsheet and wrapping it around to the bed opening, making it look as if it is two sheets (the base plus the covering sheet). The victim will find that he/she cannot get into bed (as doing this "shortens" the bed length). Known as an 'Apple-pie bed' in the UK.<ref name=wedgies/>

In a variant of the 'apple-pie bed', described in "The Reverent Wooing of Archibald," a story by P.G. Wodehouse, the upper and lower sheets are sewn together and a spiny plant inserted in between to keep company with the victim as he slips himself in between.

===Spitball===
A "spitball" is a clump of paper that the prankster has chewed and thus soaked with his/her saliva, with the purpose of throwing, spitting, or otherwise causing it to become a projectile, targeting with it any person or object on which he intends to inflict a sticky surprise. These are often propelled by placing them in a straw and blowing them out the other end.<ref name=wedgies/> A variation of this includes empty biro pens being used instead of straws.

===Swirlie===
The act of holding the victim upside down with his or her head in the toilet bowl, and flushing.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Typically perpetrated by two or more older, larger individuals.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Can result in injury and charges being filed<reF>http://www.badjocks.com/archive/2006/apr0206.htm</reF>. More commonly known as bogwashing in the U.K, or [[dunny]]flushing in Australia.

===Wedgie===
{{Main|wedgie}}
A '''wedgie''' is any one of a variety of pranks involving pulling the victim's [[underwear]] up so that it wedges between the [[buttocks]]. A wedgie may be performed by one attacker, or by a group. On [[April 6]], [[2006]], Fox News reported on an [[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[New York State|New York]] teacher who was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child for giving a 10 year old student a wedgie.[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190761,00.html]<ref name=wedgies>{{cite book | author= Greg Tananbaum and Dan Martin | title=Atomic Wedgies, Wet Willies, and Other Acts of Roguery | publisher= Santa Monica Press | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-1595800008}}</ref>

In 2007, eight year old Jared and Justin Serovich came up with "wedgie-proof" underwear at the Central Ohio Invention Competition 2007 where their invention got them into the finals.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21599350/ Twins, 8, invent 'wedgie-proof' underpants] from [[MSNBC]]</ref>

===Wet Willy===
Usually performed on a sleeping or otherwise unsuspecting person, the perpetrator of a wet willy wets his or her finger with [[saliva]] and inserts it into the ear of the victim. While not typically resulting in physical harm (although [[ear infection]] might occur), the moist sensation can be extremely unpleasant.<ref name=wedgies/>

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==References==
<references/>
*{{cite book | author= Steinberg, Neil | title=If at all possible, involve a cow : the book of college pranks | location= New York | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=1992| id=ISBN 0-312-07810-2}}

[[Category:Practical jokes]]
[[Category:School terminology]]