News 9th Grader Arrested for Bringing Homemade Clock to School

[DavidSnider]

The fact that he didn't build it totally changes the tone of the story. While I don't think he intended to build a "hoax bomb" it certainly looks like it was at least a "mock bomb".

He's 14, he probably doesn't understand that building a mock bomb is such a big deal. His Engineering teacher however should have confiscated it and said "you'll get this back at the end of the day, don't bring something like this in again" and that would have been the end of it.

 

[mheslep]

Adding to the Texas stupidity, http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/docs/09illitmap.html .

Which at 19% and per that link is a better rate (lacking-basic-literacy) than ... California (23%), New York (22%).

I don't see "stupidity" in the title of the report nor elsewhere in the study as a cause. Perhaps there are other possible explanations for English illiteracy. For instance, in a border state with high job growth, perhaps many speak languages other than English. Would they be counted as lacking-basic-literacy in this study? Yes.

It should be noted that adults who were not able to take the assessment because they were not able to communicate in English or Spanish (i.e. language barrier cases) are included in the indirect estimates and classified as lacking BPLS because they can be considered to be at the lowest level of English literacy.

 

[OmCheeto]

Which at 19% and per that link is a better rate (lacking-basic-literacy) than ... California (23%), New York (22%).

I don't see "stupidity" in the title of the report nor elsewhere in the study as a cause. Perhaps there are other possible explanations for English illiteracy. For instance, in a border state with high job growth, perhaps many speak languages other than English. Would they be counted as lacking-basic-literacy in this study? Yes.

To be honest, I was very freaked out to see that it was Texas A&M that posted that illiteracy chart.
Some of the most intelligent people I know are from Texas.
hmmm...

 

[nsaspook]

This is not directed to anyone here but I've statements in this direction elsewhere.

I just laugh when I see theories of how the boy had some sort of plan to cause an event at school. Most classic conspiracy theories are built on the deconstruction of events in a plan (an innocent plan to impress his teacher here) that actually (and usually in a random fashion) evolved in real-time and were not deterministic. The need to see random events as deterministic parts of a master plan seems to stem from our need to be in control of events or see a 'reason' for things instead of just falling down the well of time with random events controlling our lives. Occam's razor and all information so far available point to the events happening just like he said from the choice of possible and more complex alternatives to what he said.

 

[DavidSnider]

If he did do all this on purpose then he is the most brilliant Social Engineer in history ;)

 

[Vanadium 50]

Adding to the Texas stupidity, http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/docs/09illitmap.html .

As much fun as it is to pile on Texans, the statement should be that 19% of Texans cannot read an English newspaper. Something like 31% of Texans only speak Spanish at home. This tells you something about Texans, but probably not what you thought it did.

 

[russ_watters]

If he did do all this on purpose then he is the most brilliant Social Engineer in history ;)

Or perhaps his father, who is a political activist, is a pretty good one.

Does it bother anyone else that this clock was mounted inside the case?

 

[Vanadium 50]

IMO, public officials should make extra effort to treat people equally

Which is exactly what zero tolerance does. The price you pay is that you start suspending kids for half-eaten pop-tarts.

Or perhaps his father, who is a political activist, is a pretty good one.

Oh, he might have played a part, but fundamentally this story was, as they say, "too good to check". It fits so many narratives, it was fated to be told this way, no matter what the facts were.

 

[nsaspook]

Or perhaps his father, who is a political activist, is a pretty good one.

Does it bother anyone else that this clock was mounted inside the case?

Why should it?

I've seen the junk pencil box and I've seen the junk clock. Together it looked like a junk clock in a junk pencil box that IMO the idea that it might get him in trouble or cause trouble never crossed his mind. So yes, he wanted attention as in the attention of his STEM teacher and he has said many times that he wanted to impress his teacher.

 

[anorlunda]

With the new information, it does sound plausible that the boy was building an "Islamaphobia detector" , or maybe it was more innocent childish prank. We'll never know for sure.

Suddenly this case as a "perfect" example of whatever point you want to make has become very imperfect.

 

[russ_watters]

Why should it?

I've seen the junk pencil box and I've seen the junk clock. Together it looked like a junk clock in a junk pencil box...

Well, I'm not 14 anymore, so I guess I may not have a good baseline anymore, but none of what he did makes any sense to me. At 14 I was taking apart things to fix them or see how they worked. If I was "making" anything electrical, it was with a Radio Shack project kit. My favorite were the radio circuits and door alarm to keep my sister out of my room. The point is, I was always trying to do/make *something*.

I'm trying to imagine why anyone would mount a clock display inside of a box instead of (facing) outside and why it would be a hinged, locked metal case instead of something more typical of clocks. "I was trying to make a clock" is not sufficient. It doesn't make sense, whiche makes me suspicious, so I agree with the police's initial judgement that he was not being forthcoming, which made them suspicious.

IMO the idea that it might get him in trouble or cause trouble never crossed his mind. So yes, he wanted attention as in the attention of his STEM teacher...

It certainly possible that that's all this is. There are a lot of not so nice angles of this and the overreactions by both the police and media are sad. It's a hyper-PC culture where in this case two PC's collided...and the one that won-out is the one that makes Texas and the police look bad, because apparently they aren't on the list.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Given the known facts, the suspicions regarding a bomb or a hoax bomb seem reasonable.

 

[nsaspook]

With the new information, it does sound plausible that the boy was building an "Islamaphobia detector" , or maybe it was more innocent childish prank. We'll never know for sure.

Suddenly this case as a "perfect" example of whatever point you want to make has become very imperfect.

What new information?

Well, I'm not 14 anymore, so I guess I may not have a good baseline anymore, but none of what he did makes any sense to me. At 14 I was taking apart things to fix them or see how they worked. If I was "making" anything electrical, it was with a Radio Shack project kit. My favorite were the radio circuits and door alarm to keep my sister out of my room. The point is, I was always trying to do/make *something*.

Much of what I see here is the projection of one's own feeling into possible motivations of the kids actions. I'm as guilty as anyone of this but look at the facts of what's been shown and said by those who could charge him with a crime and know much more than we do about what really happened.
When I was 14 things still had tubes, Radioshack was not going out of business, Heathkit and ten other businesses that sold kits and parts were still around and judging from the interior pictures of his bedroom that family is not very well off. Maybe the clock in the box is the real level of his technical ability. I do want to hear from one person, his STEM teacher who IMO should have kept the 'clock' if there was any notion of possible danger (and did not and I can't see how that person would let him keep it if they thought it really looked like a 'Hoax Bomb") and has now vanished so we can't hear that persons side of the story.
I can completely relate to the naivety of a 14yo nerd to the stupidity of the adult world.

 

[russ_watters]

Much of what I see here is the projection of one's own feeling into possible motivations of the kids actions.

Yes, that's my point. You congratulated him earlier for keeping his mouth shut with the police, but that's his catch-22: by not elaborating, he forces people to speculate and that speculation, necessarily, goes in a negative direction - prudence demands it, even without the PC issue. There are risks for both choices, but much of the current problem was created by that choice. Heck, if he'd been more forthcoming with or obedient toward his teachers, perhaps they don't even call the police?

 

[nsaspook]

Yes, that's my point. You congratulated him earlier for keeping his mouth shut with the police, but that's his catch-22: by not elaborating, he forces people to speculate and that speculation, necessarily, goes in a negative direction - prudence demands it, even without the PC issue. There are risks for both choices, but much of the current problem was created by that choice. Heck, if he'd been more forthcoming with or obedient toward his teachers, perhaps they don't even call the police?

The problem with talking to the police is that you put yourself in legal jeoparty for anything you say even if you think it's innocent. If they had asked him "we know this is not a bomb but have you ever thought about making a bomb?" do you think he should answer that question without advice? If it was only a clock in a box what else is there to say if that's your only motivation?

The bottom line for me is that he was released the same day by the Police in the state of Texas in a city that's known for not being nice to people who are 'different'. I was born and raised in the state so I know if there was the slightest hint something was amiss he would still be in a jail cell.

 

[CJ Morin]

I thought at first the title said he brought a home made glock to school, and was about to question what the uproar was about.
Texans have a very special brand of stupidity. I don't think you'd find a story like this in other parts of the country.
There's nothing wrong with being an outspoken critic of Islam. I am an outspoken critic of Islam, and Christianity. The only problem is when you turn disdain for religion into prejudice against people.

I am sorry but this I take offense to. By making that statement that shows what kind of person you are. You are judging us by our geographical location and stating we are all stupid from Texas, kind of like the principal who had this kid arrested. Nice to know you are labeling people.

 

[anorlunda]

What new information?

The information that he was not a tinkerer. That he took an existing clock and made it look scary and put it in a pencil box. Those actions are consistent with a hoax bomb.

We can't see into the boys head. But we can't rule out a hoax intent either.

 

[mheslep]

Given the known facts, the suspicions regarding a bomb or a hoax bomb seem reasonable.

Not to the U.S. President.

 

[Rick21383]

It's amazing how many seemingly intelligent people have fallen for this nonsense hook, line, and sinker.

His father is most likely behind the whole charade and people are buying into it because that's what the liberal media is telling them to believe.

Let's look at the facts:

(1) Ahmed's dad is a Muslim rights activist.
(2) The "clock" is literally just a normal clock that's slightly disassembled, and for whatever reason placed in a shady looking suitcase. It's not an invention...it's just an opened clock in a suitcase.
(3) Ahmed shows his first teacher the clock, who says that he probably should leave it in his locker for the day because it looks kind of suspicious.
(4) Ahmed ignores the first teacher's warning and proceeds to parade it around for the day, then plug it in so it makes odd sounds to get even more attention.
(5) Ahmed doesn't know anything about electronics.
(6) When asked about the clock Ahmed was not forthcoming
(7) his sister got in trouble with the school for allegedly making terrorist threats and apparently has been running the social media show

Oh what a whiz kid!

 

[nsaspook]

The information that he was not a tinkerer. That he took an existing clock and made it look scary and put it in a pencil box. Those actions are consistent with a hoax bomb.

We can't see into the boys head. But we can't rule out a hoax intent either.

Yes, he was a tinkerer or did you fail to look at the photo of his bedroom with the little sister filled with boxes of parts and wires on a desk with missing drawers or read where people have said he's been taking stuff like this to school for a long time but the 'new' teacher didn't know about it.

Was he an electrical engineer or technican at 14? No he wasn't. Is he on the way to being one, Yes.

How smart he actually is has little bearing on the facts of the case before the media hype of him being the next Richard Feynman.

 

[nsaspook]

Not to the U.S. President.

Or to the police once they actually investigated the incident that I'm sure at least one of the Presidents advisers have read before the U.S. President made a statement about it.

 

[Blank_Stare]

I apologize in advance if some of this has already been discussed - I don't have time to read all the posts in this HUGE thread.

The kid is high school age, so he is surely aware of the "bias" that many look at his culture/religion with. If he isn't making decisions about his actions, based on how he will be perceived, then he is going to have some hard lessons to learn in life. You can bet he has felt the sting of prejudice on more than one occasion. (I am not saying that life SHOULD work like that, I am just observing that it DOES work like that.) And, unless he has lived in a vacuum his entire life, he has seen what Hollywood thinks a suitcase bomb looks like. Even if he hasn't, you can be sure his parents have. Having said that, I don't think that his culture or religion should even be a part of this discussion, at least as far as what decisions we, as a society make, in situations such as these.

I have looked at the pictures. I should think that taking something to school that looks like a suitcase bomb should be thought of, and handled the same way as taking something to school that looks like an assault rifle. Around here, that's suspension, or expulsion from school. Aside from the fact that I didn't see any of the typical hollywood blocks of explosives, there was indeed a striking resemblence to what we see on television, and in the movies, as a portable bomb.

A few years ago, an elementary school girl got in trouble because she took TicTac's to school, and was telling her classmates that they were "smart pills". The zero-tolerance drug policy of her school system got her suspended, at least until the school board reveiwed the case. I think she was second or third grade.

Suitcase clock that looks like a bomb
Plastic replica of an assault rifle
Faux drugs

I don't see any difference in the way the cases were, or should be handled. Let me clarify that - I am not saying that they were handled CORRECTLY, I am saying that whatever policy is adopted, they should all three be handled under the same policy. (Even if the student is not outwardly SAYING that what they have is what it is being perceived as.) I won't pretend to have the wisdom to decide what is the best policy for any school system, but I do think that handling them with the same set of rules, once established, is the only wise course of action. Perhaps we should add stage props that look like swords and knives, outside of the drama department.

Ultimately, it is about what was going on in the kid's head when he made it, and then decided to take it to school. I for one, can not believe that he didn't even consider the possibility that someone would misconstrue what his device was for. Furthermore, even if we give the kid a pass, his parents have no excuse. The closest they have for an excuse is that they were ignorant of his project, and / or that he took it to school. In which case I would have to say they are doing a poor job of parenting.

This is not, and has never been about anyone's culture or religion. It's about poor judgement. Blame the kid, or blame the parents - one or all of them had to have known better. Or blame the parents for not providing proper guidance to the son. Blameless are the school, police, or government officials that may have been involved in detaining or arresting him. (Unless he was treated poorly, that is to say handled roughly, in a physical sense - no excuse for that...) Blameless is a society that has become afraid for it's safety, in a world where kids take weapons to school, and kill each other, regardless of their ethnic/cultural/religious background. The fact that THIS kid happens to be muslim is irrelevant - what religious affiliation (if any) did the assassins at Columbine have?

So what's the big deal?

Well, elections are around the corner. Politicians want to make a big deal out of molehills, to gain attention, and recognition. Bending over backwards to exonerate a youth who is a member of a culture/religion that has been getting a bloody nose lately is a cheap way for those politicians to score points with voters. I know, I know, Obama can't run again - but Hilary jumped on the band wagon very quickly, didn't she? I am betting members of the "other" party did too, although I stopped paying attention to the news articles, fairly early on in the newscycle.

In my opinion, this case should not even have been news-worthy...beyond that high school's in-house news paper.

If I were a conpiracy theorist, I would say that non-news like this is put out there to distract us from the important things that we should be worrying about.

So let's get back to important news - STEM scores, the economy, the environment, scientific research, world peace - you name it.

Blank_Stare

 

[nsaspook]

In my opinion, this case should not even have been news-worthy...beyond that high school's in-house news paper.

If I were a conpiracy theorist, I would say that non-news like this is put out there to distract us from the important things that we should be worrying about.

So let's get back to important news - STEM scores, the economy, the environment, scientific research, world peace - you name it.

Blank_Stare

This case is news-worthy but it's not because of things like Politicians using it for their own means, that's the circus side show. It's news-worthy to me because a lot of us have been around for a while and remember the world before PC, zero-tolerance and being afraid of your own shadow. It makes me wonder at what point will we stop the slow evaporation of reason and the ability to make sane decisions in these types of cases. If others are doing the same thing then the story is very news-worthy.

 

[Ben Niehoff]

I wonder if maybe the 80's era clock he scavenged the parts from was somehow not working. If he replaced some burnt-out components and re-soldered some leads, I wouldn't blame him for describing that as "building" a clock. As for why he mounted it in a pencil box, maybe he wanted to, and thought it would look cool that way. When I was around 14, I liked the idea of electronic devices looking like something else.

My guess is, his dad had this old clock which was either broken or about to be thrown out, and he came up with the idea to repurpose it in a fancy new case. The real question is why he didn't mount the buttons on the outside of the case, and perhaps the answer is he just wasn't finished with his project yet, and was just excited to show his progress to his teacher.

I'm not sure why we have to assume the worst of his intentions.

 

[mheslep]

Or to the police once they actually investigated the incident that I'm sure at least one of the Presidents advisers have read before the U.S. President made a statement about it.

One would hope so, but President "the police acted stupidly" Obama has a specific history of not making himself fully informed on local police matters before making conclusions.

 

[nsaspook]

One would hope so, but President "the police acted stupidly" Obama has a specific history of not making himself fully informed on local police matters before making conclusions.

Yes, he has history but he's on the side that just happens to be the truth of the matter unless you believe in a conspiracy theory of deliberate, predetermined malice. I don't fault the police for the arrest (if it was the offical policy when called about a bomb threat) or even asking him questions that he was not required to answer.

 

[Jeff Rosenbury]

Which is exactly what zero tolerance does. The price you pay is that you start suspending kids for half-eaten pop-tarts.

Zero tolerance is a rule based system which like all rule based systems will fail when it meets a complex world. Further people will start gaming the system rather than living their lives. Sad.

I was arguing for something we used to call "goodwill". Another term I remember pre-9-11 was "presumption of innocence".

 

[Jeff Rosenbury]

Why should it?

I've seen the junk pencil box and I've seen the junk clock. Together it looked like a junk clock in a junk pencil box that IMO the idea that it might get him in trouble or cause trouble never crossed his mind. So yes, he wanted attention as in the attention of his STEM teacher and he has said many times that he wanted to impress his teacher.

My opinion is the opposite. He built something that looked vaguely like a bomb. He's Islamic so he knows what prejudice is. IMO he was tweaking the authorities nose -- and doing a brilliant job of it.

Authorities need their nose tweaked on occasion. At some point hysteria needs to stop.

 

[mheslep]

just happens to be the truth of the matter

What is the truth of this particular matter that warrants the President's invitation, but not for the actions of many other kids who were unfairly suspended for the like of eating gun shaped pastries?

 

[nsaspook]

What is the truth of this particular matter that warrants the President's invitation, but not for the actions of many other kids who were unfairly suspended for the like of eating gun shaped pastries?

It matches his and others political agendas, guns and most of the other things do not.