The criminalization of our children continues

[Bump]

Arrested, expelled and who knows what's gonna happen to her. But chances are, her life is ruined. Why? A science experiment with a water bottle and the cap blew off.

But she's just an unimportant person, not of any rich family or anything so who cares, right?

http://www.alternet.org/civil-libert...roject-mistake

What's gonna happen when YOUR kid makes a mistake?


May 1, 2013 |



A Florida teen with an exemplary record is facing federal charges after conducting what a classmate calls “a science project gone bad.”

16-year-old Kiera Wilmot is accused of mixing housing chemicals in a small water bottle at Bartow High School, causing the cap to fly off and produce a bit of smoke. The experiment was conducted outdoors, no property was damaged, and no one was injured.

Not long after Wilmot’s experiment, authorities arrested her and charged her with “possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device,” according to WTSP-TV. The school district proceeded to expel Wilmot for handling the “dangerous weapon,” also known as a water bottle. She will have to complete her high school education through an expulsion program.

Friends and staffers, including the school principal, came to Wilmot’s defense, telling media that authorities arrested an upstanding student who meant no harm.

"She is a good kid," principal Ron Richard told WTSP-TV. "She has never been in trouble before. Ever."

"She just wanted to see what happened to those chemicals in the bottle," a classmate added. "Now, look what happened."

Polk County Schools stands by its decision to expel Wilmot, asserting in a statement, “there are consequences to actions,” and calling Wilmot’s experiment a “serious breach of conduct.”

[Sorter]

Wow.

[Nickel D]

Originally Posted by Bump

Not long after Wilmot’s experiment, authorities arrested her and charged her with “possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device,” according to WTSP-TV.

Somebody ratted her out. Who? Why?

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Donger

I suppose the school would classify this as a WMD?

I am not sure what is more pathetic. Someone took the time to build that, someone took the time to film it or that I bothered to watch part of it~

[Bump]

parents in that state should pull their kids from any future science projects in fear of this happening to their kids. Serious.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Not you too. I LIVE HERE!

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

If it is a federal felony charge, it is possible there is more to that story.

Nope. Clearly those few sentences explained everything.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

If it is a federal felony charge, it is possible there is more to that story.

Be great seeing what more there is. Federal felony for a bottle going boom. Good stuff.

[Consistent1]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Nope. Clearly those few sentences explained everything.

The kid is 16, consider that. Also look at the source it comes from. The feds waste time on shit like weed maybe, but a kid blowing up a bottle?

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Donger

Let's get too dramatic. I'll bet that this girl's punishment is drastically reduced.

There shouldn't be any punishment. In fact the inquisitive nature of the student should actually be encourage and stimulated with proper instruction. Anymore a public school education is a prison both literally and figuratively.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

The kid is 16, consider that. Also look at the source it comes from. The feds waste time on shit like weed maybe, but a kid blowing up a bottle?

When AlterNet.org reports something, take it to the bank.

[Consistent1]

And I am not saying I am right, but she could have been trying to make something like meth as I said in the beginning, or an explosive deal. Who knows, just sounds like too much law enforcement trouble for something they could have suspended her a day, or two, for.

[CrazyPhuD]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

And I am not saying I am right, but she could have been trying to make something like meth as I said in the beginning, or an explosive deal. Who knows, just sounds like too much law enforcement trouble for something they could have suspended her a day, or two, for.

welcome to the world of zero tolerance.....light your fart on fire in school...off to jail for making a WMD.(although it's really a WAD).

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

And I am not saying I am right, but she could have been trying to make something like meth as I said in the beginning, or an explosive deal. Who knows, just sounds like too much law enforcement trouble for something they could have suspended her a day, or two, for.

Meth. That must be it.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Bump

Arrested, expelled and who knows what's gonna happen to her. But chances are, her life is ruined. Why? A science experiment with a water bottle and the cap blew off.

But she's just an unimportant person, not of any rich family or anything so who cares, right?

http://www.alternet.org/civil-libert...roject-mistake

What's gonna happen when YOUR kid makes a mistake?


May 1, 2013 |



A Florida teen with an exemplary record is facing federal charges after conducting what a classmate calls “a science project gone bad.”

16-year-old Kiera Wilmot is accused of mixing housing chemicals in a small water bottle at Bartow High School, causing the cap to fly off and produce a bit of smoke. The experiment was conducted outdoors, no property was damaged, and no one was injured.

Not long after Wilmot’s experiment, authorities arrested her and charged her with “possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device,” according to WTSP-TV. The school district proceeded to expel Wilmot for handling the “dangerous weapon,” also known as a water bottle. She will have to complete her high school education through an expulsion program.

Friends and staffers, including the school principal, came to Wilmot’s defense, telling media that authorities arrested an upstanding student who meant no harm.

"She is a good kid," principal Ron Richard told WTSP-TV. "She has never been in trouble before. Ever."

"She just wanted to see what happened to those chemicals in the bottle," a classmate added. "Now, look what happened."

Polk County Schools stands by its decision to expel Wilmot, asserting in a statement, “there are consequences to actions,” and calling Wilmot’s experiment a “serious breach of conduct.”

I don't see how anyone could draw any conclusions about what really happened from this article. Kid was 16, not 6. If she was purposefully mixing chemicals that she thought would produce some time of reaction to blow up a water bottle, you gotta deal with that, no?

Seems like most people on here are saying--a 16 yr-old tried to create a small explosion at school. No one got hurt, so what's the big deal?

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Bump

I actually recall my 9th grade science teach doing a similar experiment. He did something where the cap of a 2 liter bottle blew off into the ceiling.

Now he would be put on death row for that.

Teacher, right? Yeah, that's pretty much the same as a student doing it on her own.