Middletown City Schools says it's increasing its police presence at the high school -- following a growing TikTok trend encouraging stealing or destroying items at school. Schools officials said recently, students have been participating in trends through TikTok that encourages theft of items from the schools, the destruction of school property and threats of violence.Middletown superintendent Marlon Styles, Jr. sent a letter to parents saying there has been several incidents including restroom vandalism and threats of violence toward students and staff. Styles said this kind of behavior won't be tolerated."This is completely unacceptable in any school, and we will certainly not tolerate it in our district. We take a great deal of pride in our schools and we will continue to ask students to come forward with any information about the vandalism and threats," Styles said in the letter. Styles said the situations will be investigated and students will be subject to disciplinary, and possibly criminal, consequences. He is also encouraging parents to have conversations with their kids about appropriate behaviors and cell phone use. District officials said schools will operate as normal with increased police presence at the high school. Similar actions have been taken at schools in northern Kentucky due to the social media trend.Eight students have been cited in Boone County after the viral TikTok challenge left many schools with damage.Students have been stealing or destroying school property, all for viral TikTok challenge called "devious licks" on social media. "Last week it was like, oh my gosh, what is happening here," Camp Ernst Middle School Principal Stephanie Hagerty said.She said someone damaged a water fountain and soap dispensers were yanked from the wall."We didn't know that this was happening until we started seeing these soap dispensers being stolen and broken destroyed things being shoved into the toilets," Hagerty said.On Friday, the Boone County Sheriff's Office provided an update saying eight students have been cited following these incidents from the last couple of school days. The eight students are middle and high school students from different schools.The sheriff's office said the teens have been cited with charges such as theft and criminal mischief.Other incidents at Boone County schools are still being investigated.Past national TikTok challenges have included playing with outlets or eating protein powder out of the container, also dangerous practices.Now, teachers have decided to come up with their own solution."I was thinking, 'how can we turn this around where we can empower our students to use their energy for good?'" reading enrichment teacher Autumn Kiefner said.The middle school officially started the Camp Ernst Community Cares Challenge, aimed at rewarding kids for their good, helpful deeds such as picking up litter, washing tables, sweeping classroom floors or even lending a hand at home by doing the dishes."There's a certain point system and if they get to a certain point students can actually win a pizza party," technology teacher Kristen Franks said.School officials will be posting the kind acts on Twitter and Facebook as well.Wednesday, TikTok confirmed it has banned content around the "devious licks" trend.
Middletown City Schools says it's increasing its police presence at the high school -- following a growing TikTok trend encouraging stealing or destroying items at school.
Schools officials said recently, students have been participating in trends through TikTok that encourages theft of items from the schools, the destruction of school property and threats of violence.
Middletown superintendent Marlon Styles, Jr. sent a letter to parents saying there has been several incidents including restroom vandalism and threats of violence toward students and staff. Styles said this kind of behavior won't be tolerated.
"This is completely unacceptable in any school, and we will certainly not tolerate it in our district. We take a great deal of pride in our schools and we will continue to ask students to come forward with any information about the vandalism and threats," Styles said in the letter.
Styles said the situations will be investigated and students will be subject to disciplinary, and possibly criminal, consequences.
He is also encouraging parents to have conversations with their kids about appropriate behaviors and cell phone use.
District officials said schools will operate as normal with increased police presence at the high school.
Similar actions have been taken at schools in northern Kentucky due to the social media trend.
Eight students have been cited in Boone County after the viral TikTok challenge left many schools with damage.
Students have been stealing or destroying school property, all for viral TikTok challenge called "devious licks" on social media.
"Last week it was like, oh my gosh, what is happening here," Camp Ernst Middle School Principal Stephanie Hagerty said.
She said someone damaged a water fountain and soap dispensers were yanked from the wall.
"We didn't know that this was happening until we started seeing these soap dispensers being stolen and broken destroyed things being shoved into the toilets," Hagerty said.
On Friday, the Boone County Sheriff's Office provided an update saying eight students have been cited following these incidents from the last couple of school days. The eight students are middle and high school students from different schools.
The sheriff's office said the teens have been cited with charges such as theft and criminal mischief.
Other incidents at Boone County schools are still being investigated.
Past national TikTok challenges have included playing with outlets or eating protein powder out of the container, also dangerous practices.
Now, teachers have decided to come up with their own solution.
"I was thinking, 'how can we turn this around where we can empower our students to use their energy for good?'" reading enrichment teacher Autumn Kiefner said.
The middle school officially started the Camp Ernst Community Cares Challenge, aimed at rewarding kids for their good, helpful deeds such as picking up litter, washing tables, sweeping classroom floors or even lending a hand at home by doing the dishes.
"There's a certain point system and if they get to a certain point students can actually win a pizza party," technology teacher Kristen Franks said.
School officials will be posting the kind acts on Twitter and Facebook as well.
Wednesday, TikTok confirmed it has banned content around the "devious licks" trend.
Source link
