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Eugene

(67,135 posts) Sun Jan 24, 2016, 06:22 PM Jan 2016

Texas eighth-grader suspended for rescuing classmate during asthma attack [View all]

Source: Washington Post

Texas eighth-grader suspended for rescuing classmate during asthma attack

By Peter Holley January 24 at 4:54 PM

Anthony Ruelas watched for what seemed like an eternity as his classmate wheezed and gagged in a desperate struggle to breathe.

The girl told classmates that she was having an asthma attack, but her teacher refused to let anyone leave the classroom, according to NBC affiliate KCEN. Instead, the teacher emailed the school nurse and waited for a reply, telling students to stay calm and remain in their seats.

When the student having the asthma attack fell out of her chair several minutes later, Ruelas decided he couldn’t take it anymore and took action.

“We ain’t got time to wait for no email from the nurse,” a teacher’s report quotes him as saying, according to Fox News Latino.

And with that, the 15-year-old Gateway Middle School student carried his stricken classmate to the nurse’s office, violating his teacher’s orders.

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202 replies

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Texas eighth-grader suspended for rescuing classmate during asthma attack [View all] Eugene Jan 2016 OP

Typical no tolerance idiocy. hobbit709 Jan 2016 #1

exactly. laundry_queen Jan 2016 #4

Agree with this. Maybe Anthony saltpoint Jan 2016 #9

my guess is that he is just gifted with some common sense TorchTheWitch Jan 2016 #114

Yep. His mother should be in to that saltpoint Jan 2016 #115

it really swooped into my mind the many many times TorchTheWitch Jan 2016 #121

Your being righteously pissed off saltpoint Jan 2016 #128

I second that! smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #156

indeed. hifiguy Jan 2016 #45

My class and friends would have yuiyoshida Jan 2016 #198

They should instead arrest the teacher DFW Jan 2016 #2

Exactly! Crap like this teacher should not be tolerated. FFS!!! Get that teacher away RKP5637 Jan 2016 #14

It could have been worse passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #56

Yes, they have those rules now. (nt) jeff47 Jan 2016 #188

Yep 840high Jan 2016 #87

This young man might require some saltpoint Jan 2016 #3

�We ain�t got time to wait for no email from the nurse,� a teacher�s report quotes him as saying Kalidurga Jan 2016 #91

Yep. The teacher's credibility is saltpoint Jan 2016 #93

The write-up was done by a teacher's aide oberliner Jan 2016 #131

Idiot school officials nadinbrzezinski Jan 2016 #5

How can you make it to 8th grade speaking like that? oberliner Jan 2016 #6

A systemic breakdown in community and public school Egnever Jan 2016 #7

Clearly, the student needed to talk down at a level the teacher could understand. Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #8

The most logical explanation for the grammar used. -none Jan 2016 #13

Ain't no sense in bringing no race into this here discussion. nt Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #16

It might have played a role too... Fumesucker Jan 2016 #26

Well, the kid is Hispanic. LisaL Jan 2016 #30

Here is a picture of him and his mother oberliner Jan 2016 #43

Hero! smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #157

. Maru Kitteh Jan 2016 #137

Which bothers you more? Mariana Jan 2016 #10

They both seem odd oberliner Jan 2016 #42

Generally a student of fifteen will be in ninth grade. If a student 1monster Jan 2016 #72

They must have changed birth date cutoffs Go Vols Jan 2016 #195

I started school at six years old. My cousin, who was 15 days older than me 1monster Jan 2016 #196

I teach college freshmen teenagebambam Jan 2016 #96

that does not make it "ok". great kid though. i hope this helps him get ahead in life. nt JanMichael Jan 2016 #104

If he's Hispanic, he may have been held back due to issues with language. ladyVet Jan 2016 #199

Seems to me that the most important thing to take away from this story kentauros Jan 2016 #12

That is self-evident oberliner Jan 2016 #41

The story is about his compassion being at odds against stupidity. kentauros Jan 2016 #90

As are biased inferences. LanternWaste Jan 2016 #165

Agreed oberliner Jan 2016 #171

Agreed and the actions of this teacher tend to explain why. jwirr Jan 2016 #179

I would point out that this was a teacher's aide and not a teacher oberliner Jan 2016 #181

Thank you. Enthusiast Jan 2016 #102

Well, after having read the actual article justiceischeap Jan 2016 #15

Alternative school can mean a lot of things oberliner Jan 2016 #39

For all you know, the kid speaks English perfectly Mariana Jan 2016 #100

No. I spend a bit of time in an alternative school and while some of 1monster Jan 2016 #77

I totally agree with you. Duval Jan 2016 #85

The mom says in part of the article justiceischeap Jan 2016 #118

Not to mention her medical problem might be why she was jwirr Jan 2016 #184

He was under extreme stress -- watching someone else having a severe asthma attack pnwmom Jan 2016 #17

Fair enough oberliner Jan 2016 #38

The phrase I wold use would be Kelvin Mace Jan 2016 #46

I agree. And I would go so far as to use the word, "inhuman." pnwmom Jan 2016 #49

How about she pick up the phone? Kelvin Mace Jan 2016 #67

Hah! Thanks! n/t pnwmom Jan 2016 #76

That's not fair Kalidurga Jan 2016 #94

The teacher followed district policy yeoman6987 Jan 2016 #73

What is he going to get away with? LisaL Jan 2016 #113

We know that. Just using the storyline yeoman6987 Jan 2016 #135

the teacher put the girl's life in jeapordy azureblue Jan 2016 #84

+1000 smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #158

People's accents/regional usage tend to be exaggerated when they're distressed. LeftyMom Jan 2016 #18

The full quote was "�f�k that we ain�t got time to wait for no email from the nurse" oberliner Jan 2016 #35

Of course you don't. LeftyMom Jan 2016 #48

I would have said Facility Inspector Jan 2016 #111

Here, let me translate what was said in WASP terms. Gormy Cuss Jan 2016 #164

WASP terms? oberliner Jan 2016 #172

A proper canine hailing device. n/t Gormy Cuss Jan 2016 #177

And we're back to the dogs again oberliner Jan 2016 #180

In fairness, the teacher made it to 16th grade, thinking like that. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2016 #19

Ooof! Gormy Cuss Jan 2016 #161

This is what you take away from the story? a la izquierda Jan 2016 #29

Among other things oberliner Jan 2016 #37

Real sad malaise Jan 2016 #47

This message was self-deleted by its author Deuce Jan 2016 #44

Yes, how dare people speak in their own dialect! Odin2005 Jan 2016 #50

Their own dialect? oberliner Jan 2016 #54

Normal people are able to code switch between formal standard English and the vernacular. Odin2005 Jan 2016 #61

OK oberliner Jan 2016 #62

Seriously? In a life and death emergency? eShirl Jan 2016 #144

How do you know it was a life and death emergency? oberliner Jan 2016 #147

An asthma attack that makes you fall out of your chair? gollygee Jan 2016 #162

You are making assumptions based on limited information oberliner Jan 2016 #173

In much the same way many people are simply surprised his colloquial speech is the focus LanternWaste Jan 2016 #166

That's a reasonable point oberliner Jan 2016 #168

Please stop being surprised by that, it makes you look slow. Schema Thing Jan 2016 #185

Good point oberliner Jan 2016 #186

He probably has some kind of learning disability LiberalElite Jan 2016 #51

Agreed on all points oberliner Jan 2016 #55

Agreed. LiberalElite Jan 2016 #57

It's called "dialect" and it's used mostly for literary or dramatic effect Proserpina Jan 2016 #74

My point was that the public school system has problems oberliner Jan 2016 #75

Would you seek to improve the public school system or just switch to a private system? Enthusiast Jan 2016 #106

The first option oberliner Jan 2016 #133

A kids classmate nearly died? Crunchy Frog Jan 2016 #107

Where did you read that the student almost died? oberliner Jan 2016 #132

I believe your post hoc ergo prompter hoc fallacy is another example LanternWaste Jan 2016 #167

I was not trying to make a logical assertion oberliner Jan 2016 #174

you don't know much about American dialects, if you can ask that MadLinguist Jan 2016 #81

Let me ask you a question azureblue Jan 2016 #86

It was just an observation oberliner Jan 2016 #89

I got a character in fiction that uses this kind of dialect, especially when stressed nadinbrzezinski Jan 2016 #88

My nephew in Indiana speaks like that, and he's got his GED. Crunchy Frog Jan 2016 #108

sounds like you ain't never seened Idiocracy Facility Inspector Jan 2016 #110

well, clearly the whole problem here is the kid's grammar TorchTheWitch Jan 2016 #117

Local dialect. Under stress, we fall back on that. mainer Jan 2016 #155

You have no idea. hunter Jan 2016 #160

Informal speech is simply that, informal. LanternWaste Jan 2016 #163

Students are generally discouraged from saying "fuck that" to a teacher (or teacher's aide) oberliner Jan 2016 #175

If only you had been there, you could have corrected his grammar before he helped her CreekDog Jan 2016 #187

Or maybe an English teacher three years prior? oberliner Jan 2016 #192

that's just how we talk in texas PaulaFarrell Jan 2016 #191

You would say "fuck that" to a teacher's aide? oberliner Jan 2016 #193

you would worry about your grammar and language during a health emergency? CreekDog Jan 2016 #194

If he was held back a year, and if his birthday is in the fall or winter. PersonNumber503602 Jan 2016 #201

The teacher sounds like he/she's related to Nurse Ratched. lpbk2713 Jan 2016 #11

Does the school really have rules like that? LisaL Jan 2016 #31

Just imagine ... lpbk2713 Jan 2016 #32

Exactly. LisaL Jan 2016 #40

I was 13 in the eight grade if I remember correctly. cwydro Jan 2016 #20

In most states 8th graders must be 13 by September and turn 14 anytime after that. pnwmom Jan 2016 #22

I was in high school by 15. cwydro Jan 2016 #59

I would criticize the educational system that gave this teacher a teacher's certificate pnwmom Jan 2016 #65

The write up was done by a teacher's aide oberliner Jan 2016 #134

The teacher was in charge of her classroom. It was her responsibility pnwmom Jan 2016 #136

There is no evidence of anyone sending an email to the nurse oberliner Jan 2016 #138

Allegedly? The aide's name is signed on the form. pnwmom Jan 2016 #140

The Daily Mail is a right-wing UK tabloid oberliner Jan 2016 #142

A Houston station also shows a photo of the same handwritten form. Are they trying to dupe us, too? pnwmom Jan 2016 #143

No, I assume it's a real form oberliner Jan 2016 #145

None of these people will be talking, I'm sure. The girl with the asthma attack pnwmom Jan 2016 #146

The article does not indicate that any attempt was made to reach them oberliner Jan 2016 #148

The Superintendent of Schools has already announced there will be no further statement. pnwmom Jan 2016 #149

He then made another statement on Friday oberliner Jan 2016 #150

Staff members could be fired for exercising their free speech "right" pnwmom Jan 2016 #153

It's from his Facebook page oberliner Jan 2016 #152

The Superintendent has muzzled them all in the name of privacy rights for the student. pnwmom Jan 2016 #154

How do you know that? oberliner Jan 2016 #159

You don't get out much, do you? (nt) jeff47 Jan 2016 #189

Not a whole lot, no oberliner Jan 2016 #190

Does posting on DU count as getting out? CreekDog Jan 2016 #197

Well, gosh... ljm2002 Jan 2016 #151

No doubt, the lack of proper, formal King's English during a stressful moment is indeed LanternWaste Jan 2016 #170

I was in high school at 13 and had very good grammar skills Gormy Cuss Jan 2016 #183

He could have been held back a year for whatever reason. PersonNumber503602 Jan 2016 #202

And some want to arm teachers... NightWatcher Jan 2016 #21

This kid deserves a medal, not suspension. LisaL Jan 2016 #23

Agreed. pnwmom Jan 2016 #24

Doing the right thing is not always rewarded by the authority. aikoaiko Jan 2016 #25

It's one thing to not reward it. Quite another to get punished for it. LisaL Jan 2016 #34

Very true. I should have said - the right thing is punished by the authority aikoaiko Jan 2016 #66

Anything not mandatory is forbidden Fumesucker Jan 2016 #27

And in this case, 2 girls face a 30 day punishment because one shared her inhaler pnwmom Jan 2016 #28

I'm not sure that one student should provide medication to another Orrex Jan 2016 #169

In loco parentis FAIL. BadgerKid Jan 2016 #33

And you wonder why parents these days home school their kids?? davidn3600 Jan 2016 #36

They just aired "Titanic" again recently. This reminds me of the English demanding order. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #52

This was in Killeen, Tx. HubertHeaver Jan 2016 #98

Why do I picture all of the boys in that school as having crew cuts? Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #99

Zero Tolerance = Zero Sense Odin2005 Jan 2016 #53

zdero tolerance and mandatory sentences rurallib Jan 2016 #60

Blind allegiance to authoritarianism Duppers Jan 2016 #58

You don't even want to hear the teacher's version of the events? oberliner Jan 2016 #139

Typical standing on a brick to kick a duck's ass. . . DinahMoeHum Jan 2016 #63

If we go by the law and not arbitrary school rules, Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2016 #64

The law usually allows for hearing more than one side of a story oberliner Jan 2016 #141

Bravo to him...Time for a little protest... SoapBox Jan 2016 #68

I hope that MrChuck Jan 2016 #69

I hope that some organization in the town or the state or the country 1monster Jan 2016 #70

how in the fricking Fsck does this not result in a teacher fired?!?!?!?!?!?!? w0nderer Jan 2016 #71

Thou shalt not have independent thought lostnfound Jan 2016 #78

I tend to doubt that teacher was following policy. SusanCalvin Jan 2016 #79

If it is the policy, it sure is messed up. LisaL Jan 2016 #125

Now if that teacher was packing a gun......... zwyziec Jan 2016 #80

the teacher should not only be suspended but barred from ever stepping in a classroom again spanone Jan 2016 #82

I sincerely hope that teacher gets fired. Duval Jan 2016 #83

If he'd only shot her, he'd never have been suspended. nt valerief Jan 2016 #92

Some of the replies in this thread... quickesst Jan 2016 #95

Some people just hate kids Mariana Jan 2016 #103

I'll bet the girl he was carrying in his arms... quickesst Jan 2016 #109

Oh, FFS....! Nice job, Teach. Respiratory distress is obviously no emergency. TygrBright Jan 2016 #97

That is a suspension I would gladly take. blackspade Jan 2016 #101

Everybody in schools these days is afraid of being sued.... Smarmie Doofus Jan 2016 #105

Anthony should get a medal. stage left Jan 2016 #112

Sounds to me the teacher could learn something from the student leanforward Jan 2016 #116

KISD responds to student claim of discipline for helping fellow student oberliner Jan 2016 #119

In the actual quote I have seen, Superintendent John Craft doesn't claim student wasn't suspended. LisaL Jan 2016 #120

That's an earlier statement oberliner Jan 2016 #122

Well, where is the actual statement? LisaL Jan 2016 #123

The Washington Post refers to a statement made on Wednesday oberliner Jan 2016 #124

Well, he either can't release the information because of FERPA, or he can. LisaL Jan 2016 #126

Maybe there are some things he can say and some things he can't say oberliner Jan 2016 #127

Well, perhaps it's a game of words. LisaL Jan 2016 #129

Good point oberliner Jan 2016 #130

It's also vague enough to leave the impression that the student wasn't disciplined. Gormy Cuss Jan 2016 #178

Yes, that seems quite possible oberliner Jan 2016 #182

My son has Asthma, if I ever found out a teacher sat and watched my child struggle to draw breath onecaliberal Jan 2016 #176

Way back in the dark ages, when I was that age... ladyVet Jan 2016 #200