Massachusetts Eighth-Graders Told Science Project Involving BB Gun Too Dangerous

Associated Press ^ | Jun 11, 2005 | Anon

[Pharmboy]

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Two eighth-graders who spent months working on a science project to prove how dangerous BB guns can be were disqualified from the state middle school science fair. The reason for the dismissal: BB guns are too dangerous. Nathan C. Woodard and Nathaniel A. Gorlin-Crenshaw spent seven months researching and testing their hypothesis that BB guns can be deadly and should not be used by children.

The students spent about $200 on ballistics gelatin, which has the same density and consistency as human flesh, to use during their tests.

Nancy G. Degon, vice president of Massachusetts State Science Fair Inc. and co-chair of the middle-school fair, said fair rules prohibit hazardous substances and devices.

"The scientific review committee does not consider science projects involving firearms to be safe for middle school students," Degon said.

The boys were invited to present their findings to some judges and receive a certificate of accomplishment, but they rejected the offer because they were not allowed to compete.

"I was really disappointed," Woodard said. "We had a good point to prove."

[Pharmboy]

You REALLY CAN'T make this stuff up...

[Pharmboy]

You're not gonna believe this one...

[unbalanced but fair]

Okay, I have to say it
"You'll shoot your eye out kid."

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

[mcg1969]

So wait, if the kids proved the opposite point---that BB guns were safe---they would have been accepted? :-)

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

beat me by 19 seconds, but I had to post the pic...

[Calpernia]

Every project my kids bring home have to be pre approved content wise by the teacher.

This whole thing smells.

[Pharmboy]

Somehow, we survived...

[Darkwolf377]

All kinds of stupid in this one. The kids, teachers, everyone is a dope.

[Beaker]

*ping* You have to read this one.

[jaz.357]

DANG!

Now Bobby's VOLCANO project is a bust.

[Pharmboy]

That is a deep existential point you are making. I'll have to think about that one for a while...

( :-D

[Pharmboy]

LOL!! I guess this also mean's that Jenny Lou's nuclear power science project is on hold...

[upchuck]

Another article on this subject.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks. I searched several ways and came up empty.

Admin, this already exists...sorry for the bother.

[varyouga]

this is off topic but can you post what that movie is called? I remember watching it as a kid but don't remember the title.

[6SJ7]

"A Christmas Story". A real classic.

[FreedomFarmer]

I guess floating a chicken through the Samurai Teacher's Lounge isn't a good idea for science, either.

[coloradan]

"The scientific review committee does not consider science projects involving firearms to be safe for middle school students," Degon said.

Note to scientific review committee: BB guns are not "firearms."

[unbalanced but fair]

Beat me by 19 seconds.

I remember when that movie was an unknown. Except to those of us who love Jean Shepherd's stories.