31 replies to this topic

[Sir Turtlelot]

http://blogs.miamine...harged_with.php


tl;dr
A 16 year old girl unknowingly made a small explosive as a science experiment and tested it on school grounds. Nobody was hurt and nothing was damaged, all that happened was the cap shot off the bottle, some smoke was emitted and a loud noise was created. She is now facing expulsion and is being tried as an adult for felony charges (not sure what class of felony).



For fucking serious?

I can understand the expulsion, as she did set off an explosive device on school grounds, although she wasn't aware of the explosive nature of the device, but being tried as an adult? If I recall, those two boys who RAPED that girl in Steubenville were also 16, yet they were tried as minors.

I don't even think I have to explain the amount of bullshit this is.

[Elvenlord]

Ah, Florida. Always trying to embarrass the rest of us with their antics.

[Egann]

NRA argument: Teach people to make legit bombs so they don't do it by accident.

I hate to burst people's bubbles, but "toilet cleaner + aluminum foil" is hardly a bomb. It's a flash of Hydrogen, yes, but in these quantities what's it going to do? Singe off my eyebrow?

[Fëanen]

Poor judgment? Surely. Grounds for expulsion? Considering that this allegedly wasn't what was expected, I think not. The charges are insane, and given the timing I wouldn't be shocked if it's partly because we're in paranoia mode after Boston.

[Selena]

She is now facing expulsion and is being tried as an adult for felony charges (not sure what class of felony).

I.... I don't....

wha....



...

[Doctor Pogo]

There are few words. Ridiculous is my current choice.

It's hard to believe how things change in a few years. When I was in high school 12 years ago, there were a few redneck students that would come to school with a rifle in the rifle rack of their truck. Occasionally somebody would notice and they'd be told to remember to take it out before coming back.

There was an incident in the science wing once where somebody's chemistry experiment went bad and they weren't under the fume hood and they released unpleasant and semi-toxic gas all over the science wing. They evacuated the whole area and blocked the hall with plastic sheeting and nobody could use that part of the school for three days while it aired out. Nobody got in trouble, not even detention. It was an accident. The student teacher who was leading the class failed for not ensuring that everybody was at a fume hood and doing the experiment correctly, but that was all.

Things were super laid-back.

I can't imagine trying to get anything done in the environment schools operate in now. It seems insane.

[Sir Turtlelot]

There was an incident in the science wing once where somebody's chemistry experiment went bad and they weren't under the fume hood and they released unpleasant and semi-toxic gas all over the science wing. They evacuated the whole area and blocked the hall with plastic sheeting and nobody could use that part of the school for three days while it aired out. Nobody got in trouble, not even detention. It was an accident. The student teacher who was leading the class failed for not ensuring that everybody was at a fume hood and doing the experiment correctly, but that was all.

Since Pogo's made me realize that I forgot to mention a part of the story, I should clarify as to avoid confusion.

The science experiment was not in or during any class. She was conducting her own independent experiment to test an idea for a science fair project. Sorry if any of you were misled by my post.

[Jezzer]

This is why "Zero Tolerance Policies" need to be abolished and school punishments decided on a case by case decision.

Additionally I wouldn't hesitate to ponder if racism played any role in this rather harsh decision. I ponder this based on conversations I have had with both current and previous Florida residents who cite the extent that racism exists in that state.

Also after reading the full updated and police report I am just "enjoying" this statement from the school district:

In the meantime, Lauderdale says Wilmot can challenge her expulsion, but says she's unable to discuss whether or not the teen has done so because of student privacy rights.

Um...didn't the school already name the girl in question? So by logic reasoning they already violated her student privacy rights. Oh wait how silly of me...this is Florida/southern United States...logic reasoning doesn't exist in most of that territory.

Edited by Jezzer, 02 May 2013 - 08:07 PM.

[J-Roc]

I remember tons of science stuff exploding in my school, I think Sandy Hook just re-Columbined the fuck out of America.

[Oberon Storm]

I don't know...

Just knowing that this was not a classroom experiment or some sort of sanctioned science fair experiment...

I may have read it wrong, but did she not tell authorities that it was for a science fair? It clearly wasn't. She was just fucking around with shit she should not have been fucking around with. What weighs in her favor is the that she doesn't seem to have any prior history of trouble and makes good grades. I think that should be taken into account, but I don't blame anyone for not just letting this slide.

[SteveT]

I don't know...

Just knowing that this was not a classroom experiment or some sort of sanctioned science fair experiment...

I may have read it wrong, but did she not tell authorities that it was for a science fair? It clearly wasn't. She was just fucking around with shit she should not have been fucking around with. What weighs in her favor is the that she doesn't seem to have any prior history of trouble and makes good grades. I think that should be taken into account, but I don't blame anyone for not just letting this slide.

So what you're trying to say is that unauthorized science should be a felony?

Edited by SteveT, 04 May 2013 - 05:12 PM.

[Oberon Storm]

Only when you completely ignore the part where I stated her good record should be taken into account in order to get in a good line.

[SteveT]

United States culture, especially in the South is antagonistic toward science and learning. Children should be conducting experiments in their spare time. To me, this is just another story of the U.S. showing blatant disregard for education. Only it's far worse than normal, because an innocent girl is being punished for going against the cultural zeitgeist. For being an intelligent, curious person.

[Selena]

In the worst case scenario, a suspension for detonating the otherwise harmless thing would have been warranted, as she didn't ask for permission before doing it. Expulsion would be stretching it, but circumstances might come into play.

But a felony? Tried as an adult? No.

Especially, as Turtlebro pointed out in the OP, the Steubenville rapists - who had video confessions of their crimes - were tried as minors.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

Worryingly, if you place this incident against Steubenville and things like polls showing how many people believe in Creationism, it does appear as if the US is incredibly anti-science. How much longer can this continue before scientists decide that working in the US just isn't worth it?

[SteveT]

Guys. guys, guys. I don't see what Steubenville has to do with this. Those boys were football players.

[Egann]

People are on a bomb-scare after Boston. Considering the "bomb's" chemistry and design, I find suspension a tough punishment. This is a prankster's DIY firecracker: you get detention for that kind of crap, not an expulsion and a subpoena.

[Steel Samurai]

I've come to the conclusion that America's public high schools are run by the stupidest motherfuckers in the country.

[Twinrova]

It seems like a lot of things are run by the stupidest motherfuckers in the country.

[Dizzy]

Dude, I did this experiment.

It doesn't even make and explosion. The test tube "whoofs" for lack of a better term. I mean, fuck, setting off a tiny black cat firecracker would make more of an explosion.

Goddamn, Florida.

[Selena]

Motion to introduce a bill that would kick Ohio and Florida out of the union.

[Fëanen]

Motion to introduce a bill that would kick Ohio and Florida out of the union.

Within a month Florida would be under the control of Disney. And probably better off for it.

[Egann]

Motion to introduce a bill that would kick Ohio and Florida out of the union.

Within a month Florida would be under the control of Disney. And probably better off for it.

Not want. Georgia would become a swing state. DEFINITELY NOT WANT.

[Twinrova]

What does Ohio have to do with this D:

[Selena]

Because there have been too many cases about people being horribly raped or abducted+raped in Ohio lately! And Florida's insane for many many reasons.




New US protocol: You wanna stay in the union, you gotta earn it.

[Twinrova]

Oh right, I forgot there were comparisons to Steubenville in this thread. c__c Don't mind me.

[Steel Samurai]

How about we just start making states back into territories if their administration sucks? Clearly the population needs more education before they can be trusted to rule themselves.



[/reverse colonialism]

[Fëanen]

I'm honestly not sure we'd have any states left if we did that...

[wisp]

It seems like a lot of things are run by the stupidest motherfuckers in the country.

Such as the country itself.

Seriously, what the fuck happened to administrators having any kind of common sense whatsoever? It doesn't seem to matter on what level they are administrating... there's always some sort of idiotic "zero tolerance" bullshit that steamrolls over what any reasonable human being would do.

[SteveT]

It's not over for her, and it's still a travesty, but at least they dropped the charges.

http://breakingbrown...iment-exploded/