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Outrage of the Week: Science Fair Bans Most Science
Free-Range Kids ^ | February 15, 2010 | Lenore Skenazy

Posted on 02/16/2010 1:11:45 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Hi Folks! Here’s the latest — a brilliant Chinese plot to crush America’s lead in science and technology!

Oh wait. Seems it is just one Colorado school’s list of science fair rules. Thanks, reader Bree, for sending it in. The list:

For safety: Project displays and posters may NOT contain any of the following:

NO: Organisms (living or dead).

NO: Microbial cultures/fungi/molds/bacteria/parasites.

NO: Plants in Soil.

NO: Chemicals.

NO: Flammable Substances.

So I guess if you are doing a science experiment involving the effect of dust on a desk, you’re ok. But beyond that, it gets very tricky. And, worse, interesting. And so it is verboten. All for the safety of the kids, of course. — Lenore


TOPICS: Education; Health/Medicine; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: education; nannystate; regulations; sciencefair

Not welcome at the fair. PHOTO CREDIT: Meneer Zjeroen http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuskyn/ / CC BY 2.0

1 posted on 02/16/2010 1:11:45 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Here is the guidebook (6 pp or so) http://bvsd.org/tag/Documents/2008sciencefairelemhandbook.pdf


2 posted on 02/16/2010 1:23:15 AM PST by PghBaldy (Like the Ft Hood Killer, James Earl Ray was just stressed when he killed MLK Jr.)
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To: PghBaldy
And they're trying to undo TABOR - so they can have more money for whatever it is that they actually "teach" in school these days. Natural law, and recorded history are obviously off the slate.
3 posted on 02/16/2010 1:27:21 AM PST by CowboyJay (T(s)EA - Honest money, or bust!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
NO: Flammable Substances.

No paper or poster board?

The winner will probably be a brief treatise on etching glass....etched in glass.

4 posted on 02/16/2010 1:43:35 AM PST by norton
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“No chemicals”

What does that leave? Everything you can touch is made from “chemicals”.

5 posted on 02/16/2010 1:44:41 AM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; Salamander; Slings and Arrows; Markos33; JoeProBono

If I had followed those rules as a child, I would not have had any toys at all.


6 posted on 02/16/2010 1:55:19 AM PST by shibumi (Health and well being for S. and L. - in Jesus name we pray!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Under these guidelines, even the children are banned.


7 posted on 02/16/2010 2:09:53 AM PST by BykrBayb (Somewhere, my flower is there. ~ Þ)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I guess that paper-mache will be the order of the day for the oh so special projects of starwars, quantum-mechanics and nano-tech; and everyone gets a ribbon. Must be the same crowd that can not handle peanut butter and citrus in public.


8 posted on 02/16/2010 2:18:20 AM PST by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

You just take pictures of what you did and show the pictures. Its not that big a deal


9 posted on 02/16/2010 2:37:07 AM PST by dixjea
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Computer simulations of Global Warming, however, are still considered solid science.


10 posted on 02/16/2010 2:42:37 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (The naked casuistry of the high priests of Warmism would make a Jesuit blush.)
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To: BykrBayb
"Under these guidelines, even the children are banned."

True. Most public school students, after a few years of dumbing down, could easily be mistaken for potted plants.
11 posted on 02/16/2010 3:05:02 AM PST by shibumi (Health and well being for S. and L. - in Jesus name we pray!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

How to win this science fair ...make posters about the perils of global warming.


12 posted on 02/16/2010 4:04:54 AM PST by The Great RJ ("The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
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To: The Great RJ

“How to win this science fair ...make posters about the perils of global warming.”

Sorry can’t - posters are flamable, as are pictures of posters.

This just means that all kids projects are on an even footing and everyone will win, no matter how long they babble.

Someone should check to see which flavor of math this school teaches: fuzzy, Egyptian, or Mayan.


13 posted on 02/16/2010 4:29:31 AM PST by PIF
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Guess that leaves global warming as the most likely topic.


14 posted on 02/16/2010 4:33:02 AM PST by epluribus_2
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To: epluribus_2
Guess that leaves global warming as the most likely topic

How about a dissertation about how God is going to make it snow in DC until Al Gore says "Uncle"

I doubt it would win but it could be fun

15 posted on 02/16/2010 4:38:04 AM PST by Gordon Pym
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To: Gordon Pym

Actually, the kiddo that did that would be expelled for hate speech, intolerance, racism, homophobia, and heresy against the Goracle.


16 posted on 02/16/2010 4:56:21 AM PST by ConservativeHideout (Waiting for November...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I was a kid back in the 1960’s,loved playing with my chemistry set.I don't remember what it had in it but could you imagine trying to buy one like that now?
17 posted on 02/16/2010 8:59:49 AM PST by Hotmetal (Lead,follow,or get the Hell out of the way.554th REDHORSE)
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To: ntmxx

Paper mache? That stuff is deadly. It is flammable and they may get a paper cut. :)


18 posted on 02/16/2010 12:57:36 PM PST by christianhomeschoolmommaof3
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To: Hotmetal

Look on a homeschool site. You will find what you are looking for.


19 posted on 02/16/2010 12:59:10 PM PST by christianhomeschoolmommaof3
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To: christianhomeschoolmommaof3

Thank you, my point exactly; noting is safe in a liberalistic nanny state of cowards when it has to be approved by a bitchaucracy.


20 posted on 02/16/2010 1:24:29 PM PST by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
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