Proven: Justin Bieber's songs are a successful form of torture
Ethan Miller/Getty Images


Question: How do you get angsty, indifferent high school kids to raise money for a charity? Beg? Bribe?
Try torture.
A Washington high school is blasting Justin Bieber's song "Baby" on repeat between class periods and during lunch until the student body reaches its goal of raising at least $500. The money will benefit a school for orphans in Ghana, not to mention the sanity of the Tenino High School teens.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The school's torturer is none other than student body president Connor Stakelin, who came up with the idea. He's so dedicated/masochistic that he actually holds the intercom phone up to the stereo for the duration of the pass periods.
Luckily for everyone involved, the school matched and far exceeded its goal, raising more than $960 as of Tuesday. While Stakelin has ceased the school's forced Bieber Fever, he's keeping the fundraiser open.
"Any more we raise would be better for them," Conner told USA Today Network.
Here's hoping Stakelin's public-office ambitions end after graduation. Although imagine what Bieber torture could do on a national level...
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A sea of kites, a game of sand hockey, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US
-
G20: Viola Davis stars in 'ludicrous' but fun action thriller
The Week Recommends The award-winning actress plays the 'swashbuckling American president' in this newly released Prime Video film
By The Week UK
-
The Masters: Rory McIlroy finally banishes his demons
In the Spotlight McIlroy's grand slam triumph will go down as 'one of the greatest and most courageous victories in the history of golf'
By The Week UK
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans