What you have said Andrew is very relevant to all Schoolies and their parents. Our three children survived schoolies a few years ago but every year at this time I empathise with parents who have their young ones at the Coast "for the time of their lives". I would love to see a video prepared with your information as a Lawyer representing young people to emphasise that actions taken as an 18year old can have such life long and unintended consequences. Snoopy, Rochedale South Qld

Oh, for God's sake, let the kiddies have fun and make idiots of themselves for once in their lives; we've all done it in our time, and (nearly) all of us have gone on to be productive citizens.

The last thing I would have wanted at their age was a nagging nanny standing over my shoulder.

'Oh, for God's sake, let the kiddies have fun ' Clownfish writes

No doubt the/she probably thinks 16 year olds should be able to vote. I wonder if the abortion industry sponsors these events.

runner, I believe "flummoxed" is the word I would use for my status update right now ...

Timely warning for High School graduates and parents.

Too long children have been schooled about 'rights' with too little emphasis on responsibilities and mostly few consequences when boundaries are breached. Good caring parents get confused and even feel guilty about setting and enforcing codes of conduct and when successful may find attitudes at school offset their efforts. Spawn of deadbeat parents have barely a chance as the State schools lack teeth to control loutish behaviour. Rare to see these kids in the Private system as fees would deplete the booze/ciggie/drug budget.

Some feral behaviour and contempt for authority no doubt has roots in the last couple decades standards of child rearing and public education.

Suggest while teaching todays youth about their RIGHTS that a few NON-RIGHTS are drummed into the darlings.

For starters:
You have NO RIGHT to break the Law. Laws are intended for common good to create a safe and equitable environment for all of society as far as possible and to protect your RIGHTS. You may disagree with some rules and others may limit rights and activities within age groups. However you are bound by these laws and must obey them.
If caught engaging in illegal conduct there will be unpleasant consequences, some may be far reaching.

It's your RIGHT to learn about body functions, human reproduction, relationships and sexuality, consequences and contraceptives ect. You have NO RIGHT to consent to or engage in sexual intercourse until you are aged 16 years. You have no RIGHT to reproduce until then. No-one has any RIGHT to engage you in sexual intercourse.

Ensure juveniles get punishment that delivers a nice fright - first time in front of a magistrate. Put a stop to dogma that suggests disciplining kids for bad behaviour will scar their little psyches. Give schools back their authority. Target bad parents.

If this could happen, watch the improvements in nearly every area of youthful endeavour including Schoolies .....

Thank you Andrew. I have printed your post and will give it to my year 11 grandson: hopefully he will read it carefully.