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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
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")
To: Pharmboy
Okay, I have to say it
"You'll shoot your eye out kid."
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)
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
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)
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)
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")
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)
To: Gorzaloon; Lady Jag
*ping* You have to read this one.
10
posted on
06/11/2005 8:12:01 PM PDT
by
Beaker
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.)
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")
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")
To: Pharmboy
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)
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")
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
To: varyouga
"A Christmas Story". A real classic.
17
posted on
06/11/2005 8:26:54 PM PDT
by
6SJ7
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.)
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.)
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.
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