16-year-old Kiera Wilmot, known at Bartow High School in Bartow, FL for being a "model student," has not only been expelled from school, she faces felony charges for an "experiment" that went wrong. Wilmot reportedly mixed toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil, causing the top of a bottle to blow off and smoke to pour out. Wilmot says she did it because a friend told her to, believing it would only cause smoke.
Bartow High School's assistant principal called police when Wilmot's science teacher said he wasn't aware of any experiment. No one was injured, but the school is standing by its decision to expel Wilmot because kids have to learn "there are consequences to their actions."
Leah Lauderdale, spokeswoman for the school district, calls Wilmot's actions "grounds for immediate expulsion" because they violate the school's conduct code:
None
No one was injured, the principal has stated that Wilmot simply made a "bad choice" and knows she wasn't trying to hurt anyone, but she was still expelled because rules are rules. Should schools enforce rules when they're fully aware that they're being obtuse?
Better yet, does Wilmot really deserve to be treated like a criminal?
[via Miami New Times]
