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Massachusetts Eighth-Graders Told Science Project Involving BB Gun Too Dangerous
Associated Press ^ | Jun 11, 2005 | Anon

Posted on 06/11/2005 8:05:29 PM PDT by 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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; bbguns; scienceeducation; stupidity
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You REALLY CAN'T make this stuff up...
1 posted on 06/11/2005 8:05:29 PM PDT by Pharmboy
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To: Joe Brower

You're not gonna believe this one...


2 posted on 06/11/2005 8:07:53 PM PDT by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
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To: Pharmboy

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


3 posted on 06/11/2005 8:08:43 PM PDT by unbalanced but fair
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To: Pharmboy

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

4 posted on 06/11/2005 8:09:02 PM PDT by Luddite Patent Counsel ("Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." - Groucho Marx)
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To: Pharmboy
So wait, if the kids proved the opposite point---that BB guns were safe---they would have been accepted? :-)
5 posted on 06/11/2005 8:09:03 PM PDT by mcg1969
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To: unbalanced but fair

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


6 posted on 06/11/2005 8:09:47 PM PDT by Luddite Patent Counsel ("Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." - Groucho Marx)
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To: mcg1969

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

This whole thing smells.


7 posted on 06/11/2005 8:10:18 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: unbalanced but fair
Somehow, we survived...


8 posted on 06/11/2005 8:10:19 PM PDT by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
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To: Pharmboy

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


9 posted on 06/11/2005 8:11:48 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Dems, the annoying vegetarians of politics)
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To: Gorzaloon; Lady Jag

*ping* You have to read this one.


10 posted on 06/11/2005 8:12:01 PM PDT by Beaker
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To: Pharmboy
DANG!

Now Bobby's VOLCANO project is a bust.

11 posted on 06/11/2005 8:12:01 PM PDT by jaz.357 (The more you bet, The less you win, When you loose.)
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To: mcg1969
That is a deep existential point you are making. I'll have to think about that one for a while...

( :-D

12 posted on 06/11/2005 8:12:01 PM PDT by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
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To: jaz.357

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


13 posted on 06/11/2005 8:13:09 PM PDT by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
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To: Pharmboy
Another article on this subject.
14 posted on 06/11/2005 8:18:22 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: upchuck; Admin Moderator
Thanks. I searched several ways and came up empty.

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

15 posted on 06/11/2005 8:24:03 PM PDT by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
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To: Luddite Patent Counsel

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.


16 posted on 06/11/2005 8:25:14 PM PDT by varyouga
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To: varyouga

"A Christmas Story". A real classic.


17 posted on 06/11/2005 8:26:54 PM PDT by 6SJ7
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To: Pharmboy

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

18 posted on 06/11/2005 8:27:48 PM PDT by FreedomFarmer (Socialism is not an ideology, it is a disease. Eliminate the vectors.)
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To: Pharmboy
"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."

19 posted on 06/11/2005 8:28:04 PM PDT by coloradan (Hence, etc.)
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To: Luddite Patent Counsel
Beat me by 19 seconds.

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

20 posted on 06/11/2005 8:28:25 PM PDT by unbalanced but fair
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