Schoolies Week

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Schoolies or Schoolies week (known as Leavers' or Leavers' week in Western Australia) refers to the Australian tradition of high-school graduates (known as "Schoolies") having week-long holidays following the end of their final exams in late November and early December.

Contents

1 Locations
2 Criticism
3 Toolies
4 References in pop culture
5 See also
6 External links

Locations

Queensland's Gold Coast, particularly Surfers Paradise, maintains its status as the largest single venue for this revelry, attracting tens of thousands of Schoolies from the Eastern States. Schoolies from South Australia have similar traditions at Victor Harbor, while in Victoria the Surf Coast is popular, mainly consisting of Lorne and Torquay. Byron Bay is another popular destination for New South Wales schoolies. In Western Australia Rottnest Island off Perth and the South West towns of Dunsborough and Busselton are popular destinations. Cruises are also popular.

Criticism

Since the event began to attract large enough numbers to warrant annual media attention, the schoolies week has become a familiar concept nationwide. Popular media frequently criticise what has become a rite of passage due to binge drinking and promiscuity. Police attention is regularly required where the collective behaviour of schoolies at some locations gets out of hand such as Rottnest in 1986.

In recent years, violence (notably sexual violence) has become an increased threat to the safety of those students and others participating, and there is predictable coverage of antics, accidents, and attacks. Fights have broken out between schoolies from one area and another.

Toolies

Also, there has been an increased presence of people well beyond school age taking part in the event; ungenerously termed toolies, they have become associated with targeting drunk teenagers for sex, as well as taking part in parties intended for a younger audience.

The origins of the word "toolies" are debatable. It can be seen as an abbreviation of "too old for schoolies" or as a modification of "schoolies" to incorporate the slang term "tool", in other words moron or jerk. The negative portrayal of the older attendants of schoolies week is in part due to the sexual violence associated with them. The older attendants are also seen as 'losers who have nothing better to do'.

Another interpretaion is that "toolies" is a portmanteau of Tertiary and Schoolies. Tertiary level education is the next step after Secondary school in the Australian education system (also known as University or TAFE).

References in pop culture

The rough cultural equivalent of schoolies in the United States and Canada would be spring break or senior week. The 2002 movie [Blurred] was about Schoolies Week.

There is also a section in the DVD Fat Pizza Uncensored that shows graphically what happens at the Gold Coast Schoolies Week, continual partying, drinking and sex. It is alleged that girls even partake in 'tag team' sex while celebrating Schoolies Week - although this could be seen as attempting to excuse the sexual violence that is now associated with Schoolies.

External links