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Teen arrested after teacher sickened by his asthma medicine
ktrk ^

Posted on 01/16/2004 11:28:30 PM PST by chance33_98

Teen arrested after teacher sickened by his asthma medicine

ABC13 Eyewitness News (1/16/04 - MAGNOLIA, TX) — A bizarre story in Magnolia ends with a teenager in lock up and a teacher in the hospital. Now the boy's family is concerned he's being treated unfairly.

The boy's family says eyewitnesses actually saw the boy take a couple of puffs from his rescue inhaler for treatment of asthma, then blowing the medicine at a teacher. The family, though, says he's a good kid and the charge of using deadly force simply doesn't fit the crime.

Judy McCreary wants desperately to see her son. Sixteen-year-old Michael Todd is in custody at the Magnolia Juvenile Detention Center, arrested and accused of illegally discharging his asthma inhaler at school.

"It's absurd. It's ridiculous. It's an inhaler," said McCreary.

Todd's family says the medicine was albuterol, a drug commonly used to prevent the onset of asthma attacks.

Both the school district and Montgomery County Constable's office say the discharge of medicine was unrelated to any medical necessity, though, and resulted in health consequences for a teacher. She apparently suffered an allergic reaction and went to the emergency room.

Todd's uncle, Steve Wilson, says the school told him the teen blew the medicine toward the teacher while asking her a question. But he also says witnesses believe the incident was not intentional.

"It's possible he was playing a joke, or whatever, to see the smoke come out as he talked to her," theorized Wilson. "That's possible, that it was not malicious."

Todd's family says he's been kicked out of Magnolia High School now because of the incident. More concerning, though, they say is that he may not be released from the juvenile detention center before Tuesday.

McCreary said, "I just think it's wrong to hold him four or five days is not right. Not when he's never been in any trouble."

The state legally has two business days to hold a detention hearing in any juvenile case. Since Todd was arrested Thursday, Friday would be day one. The weekend and Monday holiday don't count, so Tuesday would be two business days, although in reality it is nearly day six.

But the juvenile department has suggested that they may hold a special Saturday hearing on this case.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: asthma; prank; teens
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To: chance33_98
The boy's family says eyewitnesses actually saw the boy take a couple of puffs from his rescue inhaler for treatment of asthma, then blowing the medicine at a teacher.

The reason the albuterol is effective is because it is so rapidly absorbed - by the time you could blow out again the residual albuterol would be extremely low. Sounds like a "placebo effect" (on the part of the teacher) to me.

41 posted on 01/17/2004 7:00:24 AM PST by FairWitness
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To: FairWitness
The boy's family says eyewitnesses actually saw the boy take a couple of puffs from his rescue inhaler for treatment of asthma, then blowing the medicine at a teacher.

Sounds like only one side of the story to me.

You'll notice that the entire story is based on statements by the boy's family. I don't suppose they could be biased in any way?

I'd be willing to bet they didn't witness the incident.

42 posted on 01/17/2004 7:46:01 AM PST by Amelia
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To: Amelia
Gee. Your logical comments seem to have thrown a wet blanket on the bash-public-schools-and-all-teachers (while generally ignoring the responsibility of the self-serving citizens on the school boards of the nation) party.
43 posted on 01/17/2004 9:01:26 AM PST by Clara Lou
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To: blackbart.223
It's all those damn cattle we raise for food. And the resultant farts from eating them

No, those are from the ranch style beans on the plate next to the steaks.

44 posted on 01/17/2004 9:01:55 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: texas booster
Any teacher in America that is unfamiliar with asthma medications doesn't deserve to a classroom.

Most teachers are unfamiliar with common sense. My daughter kept getting lice from school. When my wife discussed the problem with her teacher, the teacher assured us that they had checked the children in the class, and there were no lice present. There were only nits, so we didn't have to worry. (No, we don't have chickens, only eggs!) My wife tried to explain the facts of life to the faculty, but she doesn't have a teaching degree, so what does she know?!

We've never had a problem with lice since we started homeschooling.

45 posted on 01/17/2004 9:09:00 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: Jeff Chandler
she doesn't have a teaching degree, so what does she know?! <p.Additionally, most teachers I've met think they know my kids better than I do.
46 posted on 01/17/2004 9:44:37 AM PST by paul51
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To: paul51
Oh oh. Back to html camp
47 posted on 01/17/2004 10:10:39 AM PST by paul51
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To: Jeff Chandler
Most teachers are unfamiliar with common sense.

There are people who lack common sense in every profession, including yours.

48 posted on 01/17/2004 10:52:49 AM PST by Amelia
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To: Amelia
From the article, looks like we're only getting one side of the story. Which is prevalent in the journalistic world these days.

As for teachers and unions, some school districts don't give the teacher a choice. My conservative daughter HATES unions, but was told by the administration that the $900 per year dues would be deducted from her salary, regardless.

49 posted on 01/17/2004 11:07:05 AM PST by LisaMalia (Buckeye Fan since birth!!)
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To: Clara Lou
I thought FReepers were critical thinkers who rejected biased, one-sided news stories.

I guess it depends on whose ox is gored, huh?

50 posted on 01/17/2004 11:07:30 AM PST by Amelia
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To: Amelia
There are people who lack common sense in every profession, including yours.

Indeed. Most professions, however, unlike the teaching profession, do not require years of leftist propaganda classes intended to train common sense out of you.

51 posted on 01/17/2004 12:04:39 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: blackbart.223
>>All I can say is keep your kids out of public schools.

Worth saying again.
52 posted on 01/17/2004 12:06:03 PM PST by FreedomPoster (this space intentionally blank)
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To: Jeff Chandler
Most professions, however, unlike the teaching profession, do not require years of leftist propaganda classes intended to train common sense out of you.
Umm, Jeff. I'm a teacher. I graduated from a conservative university (Texas A&M) and then, after my kids were born, I went to Baylor University (another conservative university, wouldn't you say?) for my Texas teaching certificate. Please indicate where you think the "leftist propaganda" came into my education.
Can you see the problem here? People like you make broad generalizations about a group of people that aren't true of all the people in the group-- maybe not even most of the people. You're just a teacher-basher-- an any-teacher-basher. Even FR teachers. Doesn't speak well of you.
53 posted on 01/17/2004 12:14:27 PM PST by Clara Lou
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To: Clara Lou
I'm willing to bet that for your Bachelor's degree you were required to take a certain number of "humanities" courses, and depending on the state you could be required to take "ethnic sensitivity" courses. Remember the uproar about Freshman students required to read excerpts of the Q'ran for a mandatory class for incoming students? I'm guessing that is the kind of thing Jeff was talking about. Texas universities may be a little different than other states these days.
54 posted on 01/17/2004 12:20:02 PM PST by Tailback
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To: Amelia
There are people who lack common sense in every profession, including yours.

In most professions, lack of common sense results in lack of success. That's another area where most professions differ from the teaching profession. In the teaching profession, nonsense is considered wisdom, e.g.: muliticulturalism, whole word reading, bilingual education, diversity training, tolerance of same sex attraction training, fuzzy math, bizzaro social studies, Maya Angelou on reading lists, etc., etc., etc.(with apologies to Oscar Hammerstein II).

Because of the wacko mindset in the ed schools, schools have become mere socialist, deconstructionist indoctrination centers.

55 posted on 01/17/2004 12:20:30 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: Nakatu X
The nurses "punished" her by making her wait 6 hours for her shot--good for 'em.

My mother was admitting clerk at an ER for decades. They see the same bums over and over--all on welfare. The solution? "The doctor can see you in about six hours." Most leave. I once had to go to the ER, and walked right into the back. I was sick, however. Two women out front--crying from "headaches" that could alleviated only by prescription drugs--were ignored until they left.

56 posted on 01/17/2004 12:28:48 PM PST by Trickyguy
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To: lelio
More important how does a teen end up in a detention center after using prescribed albuterol. I'm sure that experience did wonders for his asthma.

It is the teen's call to decide to use it, not the teachers decision.
57 posted on 01/17/2004 12:29:17 PM PST by Domestic Church (AMDG...)
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To: Clara Lou
People like you make broad generalizations about a group of people that aren't true of all the people in the group-- maybe not even most of the people.

Of course broad generalizations are never true of all the people in the group! But that doesn't make them not true. Most black voters vote democrat. That is a broad generalization, and is true in spite of the fact that a small minority of black voters vote Republican.

It is indeed true that most public school teachers are left-leaning liberals lacking in common sense. The existence of a minority of teachers, like yourself, who have their heads screwed on straight fails to negate the truth in my generalization.

BTW, did they teach you in ed school that generalizations are invalid if there are exceptions to them?

58 posted on 01/17/2004 12:30:00 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: Clara Lou
From Texas A&M Dept. of Teaching, Learning, and Culture:

 

Department Mission

"To prepare educators and researchers to build inclusive democratic communities in schools and society through critical and reflective research, teaching, and service."

Maroon line

TLAC Policy Statement on Diversity

The Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC) does not tolerate discrimination, violence, or vandalism. TLAC is an open and affirming department for all people, including those who are subjected to racial profiling, hate crimes, heterosexism, and violence. We insist that appropriate action be taken against those who perpetrate discrimination, violence, or vandalism. Texas A&M University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity institution and affirms its dedication to non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, domestic partner status, national origin, or disability in employment, programs, and services. Our commitment to non-discrimination and affirmative action embraces the entire university community including faculty, staff, and students.

59 posted on 01/17/2004 12:38:50 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (2004: The Neocons vs. The Neocoms)
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To: Jeff Chandler
Your reply is irrelevant to my post.
60 posted on 01/17/2004 1:07:43 PM PST by Clara Lou
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