Kids, 1; principal, 0

Meep got bleeped.

True fact. The kids at Danvers High School plotted some vast conspiracy to use the word “meep” in school, and the principal actually sent out a red alert on the school’s automated call system informing parents that the word was banned. Any offenders could face suspension.

For those unfamiliar with the etymology of the word, observe:

Catchy tune, that.

Now, I’m sure it would get really annoying to be a teacher facing a sea of meep-speaking students. What’s the square of the hypotenuse? Meep. Who shot Alexander Hamilton? Meep. All day long. Meep. Meep. Meep. But by banning the word outright, the principal is giving the young rebels exactly what they want: proof that they got under the skin of the administration.

When I was in middle school, all the kids (back in the pre-Facebook age) plotted to come to school dressed as if we just stepped off the set of “Grease” or “Happy Days.” Poodle skirt, bobby socks, slicko hair for the guys, high ponytails for the girls. We looked ridiculous. Some teachers got it and simply ignored us. But we managed to rattle a few of them (including the algebra teacher, who tried so hard to be cool in his faded jeans but was as uptight as a schoolmarm), and victory was ours.

Ah, school days. The poor principal at Danvers High will undoubtedly be hearing about this for a while, especially since he blamed the Meeper Rebellion on the evils of Facebook. I can only imagine the calls he’s getting on his voice mail.

Beep… Meep, meep.