Boy's science project prompts school evacuation

Poor kid.

This is awful. I feel sorry for him and his parents. He probably feels humiliated, and all he tried to do is make a cool science experiment...

We are doomed as a nation. When children are INVITED to create science experiments, and then treated like they are terrorists because the frigging experiment contains wires, which are part and parcel for SCIENCE, we are sunk. It's done. Close up shop. It's cliche' already, but true: the terrorists have won.

Looking back on my science project of 40+ years ago, I made a water treatment plant... I bet it looked a lot like a bomb, too. Tubes running everywhere, a battery operated pump, etc. What has happened to us? Paranoia rules the days, it seems...

Why didn't authorities just ask the 11 year old boy--or call his parents? These school administrators should be charged for the costs of making such a fuss over a kid's science project.

However.... these days school officials are paranoid--so it is a good idea for parents to notify the school in advance and in writing about their kids' science projects--no matter how mundane they might seem. Do not ever assume that the device your child takes to school for a science project is "obvious". Assume administrators cannot see past the end of their own noses.

I helped my son make a device which fired paint balls using a powerful spring. He used it to determine the optimum angle of fire to achieve the longest distance or range of fire. I notified the principal and the teacher before I brought him to school with the device. I was terribly afraid he would be punished for bringing a gun to school--since it did fire a projectile (paint ball). His project turned out to be popular at the science fair. He and it did not create a panic and he did not get into trouble--because I notified everybody in advance.

Why didn't authorities just ask the 11 year old boy--or call his parents? These school administrators should be charged for the costs of making such a fuss over a kid's science project.

It seems like anymore they are more apt to "Overreact" and take the consequences than to take ANY chances!

I worked as a custodian at a high school 15 years ago and remember getting a bomb threat... the principal dismissed school that day and the place was searched. The next day FIRST THING there was an assembly called... he told the entire school that the NEXT bomb threat that they released for would be taken SERIOUSLY... but EVERYONE would then make up DOUBLE TIME for the time missed! (Mysteriously the bomb threats never happened again).

Not sure HOW he would have handled it LATELY... but I always CHUCKLE when I think about that incident!

IN the late 70's and early 80's a bomb threat was a great way to get a test postponed or to get an extra day to finish a term paper. Mondays and Fridays--were the most popular days to call in a threat.

Then they increased the criminal penalties for making bomb threats--and the rates dropped significantly.

Perhaps they should abandon "science projects" and science fairs--so these messes do not occur! Or perhaps administrators should think before they cry WOLF.

I had a cretin vice principal like that myself. A Mr. Satterlie...back in the ancient 50's, he has to be dead by now. This poor limited man called the police on me, because while I was trying to figure out how the fire hose was attached to the case, the darn hose came out of its case and went all over the place...down the hall, much to the glee of the other kids. Several police and a horrible spanking from my parents later, I realized, that to this poor man, thought that almost everything was criminal, including breathing. People are Bomb phobic now, but the reactions, by limited school officials do appear to be the same as in by-gone eras.

Now let me give you a nickel's worth of free advice, McFly. This so-called Dr. Brown is dangerous, he's a real nutcase. You hang around with him, you're gonna end up in big trouble.

Wow, paranoid much are we?