TikTok Challenge “Devious Licks” Has Hit Rhode Island Schools and Is Sparking Vandalism
Friday, October 01, 2021
GoLocalProv News Team
View Larger +
Thompson Middle School was reportedly vandalized -- linked to TikTok challenge
Multiple sources associated with Thompson Middle School in Newport tell GoLocal that a bathroom was reportedly damaged as the result of a recent TikTok challenge.
The challenges are called “Devious Licks” on the social media platform and are leading to vandalism in schools in Rhode Island and across the country.
The Newport School Department's public relations firm Advocacy Solutions said the school had no comment.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
However, teachers at Thompson voiced concerns about the damage and the impact of the challenges. Teachers requested their names not be disclosed fearing retribution from the school’s administration.
Thompson Middle School is one of the lowest-performing in the state. SEE MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE BELOW
Gaudet Middle School in Middletown was also vandalized as a result of the social media challenge, according to a report in the Newport Daily News.
View Larger +
The TikTok challenge "Devious Licks" has caused damage to schools across the country
Monthly Challenges
The September challenge -- vandalize the school bathroom -- has hit hundreds of schools across the country. And, additional challenges are supposed to hit schools each month.
In October, the challenge is “Smack a Staff Member.”
According to the posts on the social media platform the schools face the following monthly challenges:
November: Kiss your friend's girlfriend at school
December: Deck the halls and show your ***
January: Jab a breast
February: Mess up the school signs
March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria
April: “Grab some eggs.” (Another stealing challenge)
May: Ditch Day
June: Flip off the front office
View Larger +
TikTok app linked to multiple controversies
Ten days ago, TikTok announced it was banning "Devious Licks" videos on the platform, saying they violate the app's community guidelines, but that has not slowed the phenomenon in Rhode Island or across the country.
After the dangerous milk crate challenge and hundreds of reported injuries, the company issued a statement.
“TikTok prohibits content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts, and we remove videos and redirect searches to our Community Guidelines to discourage such content,” the social media platform said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behavior whether online or off.”
TikTok has been a highly controversial and popular social media platform. Members of Congress have warned about the platform's security breaches and links to the central government in China, some countries have blocked the app, and Amazon once banned the use of the platform for its employees and then reversed course.
Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s Worst Performing Middle Schools - July 1, 2019
All numbers have been rounded. Schools listed at those in which the percentage of Fails to Meet Expectations and Partially Meets Expectations Combine for 80% for either English Language Arts (ELA) or Math.
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Johnston
Nicholas Feri Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 27% Math 22%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 54% Math 61%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 18% Math 16%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA 1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Cranston
Hugh Bain Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 37% Math 38%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 52% Math 54%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 11% Math 8%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Woonsocket
Woonsocket Middle School - Hamlet
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 45% Math 45%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 46% Math 48%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 8% Math 7%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1% Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Woonsocket
Woonsocket Middle School - Villa Nova
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 41% Math 40%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 49% Math 54%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 10% Math 7%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1% Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
Roger Williams Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 60% Math 56%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 36% Math 41%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 4% Math 2%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA 0 Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Pawtucket
Samuel Slater Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 48% Math 40%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 44% Math 53%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 6% Math 7%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Pawtucket
Joseph Jenks Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 44% Math 37%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 47% Math 56%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 8% Math 6%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Central Falls
Dr. Earl E. Calcutt Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 55% Math 59%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 38% Math 37%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 6% Math 4%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math 0
Has been under state management for approximately 20+ years
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
Esek Hopkins Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 49% Math 45%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 43% Math 51%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 8% Math 4%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
Gilbert Stuart Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 60% Math 56%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 36% Math 41%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 3% Math 3%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA 0 Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
Governor Chris DelSesto Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 64% Math 56%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 33% Math 41%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 3% Math 3%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math 0
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
Nathan Bishop Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 51% Math 50%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 35% Math 40%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 13% Math 10%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA 1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Providence
West Broadway Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 52% Math 52%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 42% Math 42%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 6% Math 6%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Charter
Paul Cuffie
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 23% Math 22%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 59% Math 59%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 17% Math 19%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math 1
Test results are for the entire school, not just the middle school
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Newport
Frank E. Thompson Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 30% Math 28%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 47% Math 53%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 21% Math 19%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA 1 Math <1
View Larger +
Prev
Next
West Warwick
John F. Deering Middle School
Not Meeting Expectation: ELA 23% Math 27%
Partially Meeting Expectations: ELA 55% Math 57%
Meeting Expectation: ELA 22% Math 16%
Exceeding Expectations: ELA <1 Math <1
Related Articles
Enjoy this post? Share it with others.
