13 Childhood Pranks That Would Get You Suspended Today
Here's a list of mischievous school pranks that were once considered harmless fun but would likely lead to suspension or legal trouble in today’s stricter school environments.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Once regarded as harmless hijinks, many classic school pranks from decades past are now met with strict disciplinary measures. From fake bomb scares and smoke bombs to bathroom sabotage and hacked announcements, these once-laughable stunts can now trigger suspensions, police involvement, or criminal charges. This list revisits 13 real pranks that reflect changing social norms, school policies, and safety standards.
1. The Fake Bomb in a Locker
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In the 1980s and 1990s, some students thought it was hilarious to place alarm clocks or beeping devices in lockers to mimic a bomb scare. While it was seen as a mischievous prank back then, it would be treated as a serious threat today. Modern zero-tolerance policies mean this could lead to expulsion or even criminal charges.
2. Supergluing the Teacher’s Desk Items
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It used to be a popular gag to superglue pens, staplers, or mugs to a teacher’s desk. The prank was meant to frustrate teachers with harmless laughs, but the damage to school property can be costly. Today, it could result in suspension or even a vandalism charge.
3. Pulling the Fire Alarm for Fun
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Back in the day, some kids would yank the fire alarm just to get out of class or watch the chaos unfold. While adults didn’t always treat it as a huge deal in the past, schools today coordinate with emergency services, making false alarms extremely serious. Most districts now consider this a criminal offense and a major disciplinary issue.
4. Smoke Bombs in the Hallway
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Kids once thought it was funny to set off small smoke bombs or stink bombs during passing periods. It caused confusion and minor panic, but rarely led to more than a scolding. In today’s climate, it would lead to an evacuation, police involvement, and immediate suspension.
5. Switching Morning Announcements with a Fake Broadcast
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Some tech-savvy students in the early 2000s managed to hack or pre-record joke announcements, pretending to be the principal. While it was creative, it disrupted the school’s operation and undermined authority. Now, this would be treated as a serious breach of school systems and grounds for suspension or even arrest.
6. Releasing Animals in School
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From chickens in the hallway to pigs in the cafeteria, students have pulled pranks involving live animals. While it once brought laughs and camera flashes, animal rights concerns and public safety have changed the response. Today, it could lead to charges of animal cruelty or disorderly conduct.
7. The Old “Kick Me” Sign Trick
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Taping a “Kick Me” sign on someone’s back used to be the classic harmless prank. Today, it’s considered a form of bullying, especially if the student gets hurt or embarrassed. Schools now take even minor harassment seriously, and suspensions have occurred over incidents like this.
8. Plastic Wrap Over the Toilet Seat
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Pranking bathroom stalls with plastic wrap was once a popular trick among mischievous students. It caused messes and laughs, but also custodial headaches. Today, this kind of unsanitary prank could result in suspension for violating health and safety codes.
9. Locking a Teacher Out of the Classroom
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Some bold students would rush to lock the classroom door as the teacher stepped out, thinking it was a clever way to delay class. What used to be shrugged off as mischief is now seen as a security threat and power play. Modern discipline would likely include suspension and a parent conference.
10. Creating a Fake School Closure Notice
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Before the internet had safeguards, students would create fake flyers or even websites claiming school was canceled. Some even made fake robocalls to parents. Today, with cyber laws and stricter digital oversight, that would be treated as fraud or impersonation, resulting in serious punishment.
11. Cherry Bombs in Toilets
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Setting off small explosives like cherry bombs in toilets was once the ultimate rebellious act. It caused major plumbing damage and sometimes destroyed facilities entirely. Modern schools treat this as a criminal offense involving explosives, and students can be arrested or expelled.
12. Swapping Classrooms or Identities
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On April Fools’ Day, entire classes would sometimes swap rooms or even switch names with each other to confuse substitute teachers. What was once a coordinated joke is now seen as an intentional disruption. Many schools today won’t tolerate that level of disorder and would issue disciplinary action.
13. Hiding a Friend in a Locker
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As a dare or prank, students would sometimes wedge a small classmate into a locker just to freak out a teacher or peer. It was once considered goofy fun, but today it raises serious concerns about safety, consent, and entrapment. Schools now respond with immediate suspension and possible child endangerment investigations.