http://crimevoice.com/merced-teacher-got-kids-high-kept-explosives-say-police-5828/
Cliffs:
- police allege chemistry teacher provided chloroform to three students to inhale and "get high"
- police found 4 mL (milliliters) of nitroglycerin in the chemistry class storage room
Now I do NOT know what this teacher was doing, nor am I claiming to know, but I do know that police and prosecutors sometimes have a penchant for overstating or exaggerating circumstances or blowing things out of proportion.
Lots of giants in chemistry, engineering, physics, and other sciences developed an early interest or fascination with science by cooking up things that were cool and neat, albeit potentially toxic or dangerous (let's face it, that's the attraction for young minds). e.g. Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, was making nitroglycerin and dynamite at 13 years of age, among many other notable scientists who described their early science careers by making their own black powder, fireworks, and other goodies (often in their own back yard or basement).
It is entirely possible that this teacher was just trying to promote an interest in chemistry/science via the "old school" way. Not long ago (circa 1960s), it was absolutely commonplace for high school chemistry teachers to "immerse" students in all the properties and characteristics of chemistry. e.g. if a substance had a foul, pungent odor that could result in a nauseated feeling, or produce a metallic taste in the mouth, they would give the students a whiff of it so that they could experience this property. Just like many police agencies and the military still expose students or cadets to tear gas or pepper spray and let them experience the effect, property, or characteristic.
In the 1960s, it was commonplace for many high school chemistry classes (and especially college) to experiment with black powder, rocket propellants, nitroglycerin, and other cool stuff. But then the age of "We must protect at all costs someone's dumb kid who can't follow directions" came and a 400+ year tradition of amateur chemistry and experimentation came to an abrupt end. My own high school chemistry instructor recounted how utterly common it was, until one incident many years prior.
They were mixing their own black powder, a small amount that wasn't "dangerous" if accidentally ignited but could still produce minor burns. The teacher was walking around monitoring each student and was shocked to see "Someone's Dumb Kid Who Can't Follow Directions" crushing and grinding the black powder, instead of gently stirring it as the class had been repeatedly instructed. Before he could physically rip the student away from the desk, the mixture ignited, flared up and gave the kid some minor second degree burns, which fully healed in just a matter of weeks. Parents sued (of course) and that was the end of making black powder, rocket propellant, and anything else that *might* be hazardous.
Cliffs:
- police allege chemistry teacher provided chloroform to three students to inhale and "get high"
- police found 4 mL (milliliters) of nitroglycerin in the chemistry class storage room
Now I do NOT know what this teacher was doing, nor am I claiming to know, but I do know that police and prosecutors sometimes have a penchant for overstating or exaggerating circumstances or blowing things out of proportion.
Lots of giants in chemistry, engineering, physics, and other sciences developed an early interest or fascination with science by cooking up things that were cool and neat, albeit potentially toxic or dangerous (let's face it, that's the attraction for young minds). e.g. Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, was making nitroglycerin and dynamite at 13 years of age, among many other notable scientists who described their early science careers by making their own black powder, fireworks, and other goodies (often in their own back yard or basement).
It is entirely possible that this teacher was just trying to promote an interest in chemistry/science via the "old school" way. Not long ago (circa 1960s), it was absolutely commonplace for high school chemistry teachers to "immerse" students in all the properties and characteristics of chemistry. e.g. if a substance had a foul, pungent odor that could result in a nauseated feeling, or produce a metallic taste in the mouth, they would give the students a whiff of it so that they could experience this property. Just like many police agencies and the military still expose students or cadets to tear gas or pepper spray and let them experience the effect, property, or characteristic.
In the 1960s, it was commonplace for many high school chemistry classes (and especially college) to experiment with black powder, rocket propellants, nitroglycerin, and other cool stuff. But then the age of "We must protect at all costs someone's dumb kid who can't follow directions" came and a 400+ year tradition of amateur chemistry and experimentation came to an abrupt end. My own high school chemistry instructor recounted how utterly common it was, until one incident many years prior.
They were mixing their own black powder, a small amount that wasn't "dangerous" if accidentally ignited but could still produce minor burns. The teacher was walking around monitoring each student and was shocked to see "Someone's Dumb Kid Who Can't Follow Directions" crushing and grinding the black powder, instead of gently stirring it as the class had been repeatedly instructed. Before he could physically rip the student away from the desk, the mixture ignited, flared up and gave the kid some minor second degree burns, which fully healed in just a matter of weeks. Parents sued (of course) and that was the end of making black powder, rocket propellant, and anything else that *might* be hazardous.
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