to think Ds' Physics teacher is more than a bit sadistic...

[wakemeupnow]

Ds 15 class did an experiment today . It involved dissolving lots of salt and sugar into water to see how much could be dissolved. He then promised extra points to any students who would drink it. Ds did and felt sick for ages after .

Previously the same teacher after an experiment involving amonia , left the class and told them not to dare smell what was in the sealed test tubes. Of course some of them did and suffered for it...

Yeh ....What kind of school has a pet Alpaca ?

DD would love to go to a school that keeps Alpacas, perhaps she should suggest it to her science teacher? I'm sure there are lots of teaching opportunities linked to Alpacas (textiles, biology, nutrition?)

A high school science teacher should not be encouraging pupils to eat or drink anything in a science lab. I teach undergraduate labs in university and we had a student who decided to taste some of the reagents in a microbiology practical, incredibly stupid given the microorganisms we were working with. He was immediately removed from the practical and lost all possible marks for that day.

re. the alpaca. Apparently schools have been getting in touch with the organisation that advises on school science safety in England and Wales, asking if there are any health concerns with having a school alpaca (resumably along with the school rabbit and the school rats). Their response is that since alpacas can pick up and transmit bovine TB (i.e. as in badgers and cows) schools should avoid getting them until DEFRA suggest otherwise.

I didn't want a school alpaca until I read that I'm not allowed. Now I am very keen.

Have nowhere to put one, mind you.

Is swallowing a mouthful of salt water really such a terrible thing?

Best not go swimming in the sea anymore, there's more than just salt in that water.

I think the teacher sounds like a good laugh. I bet the pupils really like him and he gets them interested in his subjects.

Schools need a few eccentrics who are willing to stretch the acceptable at times. They can be quite inspirational.

You can send a letter, but do you really want your son not to have a bit of fun in his class.

(I also suspect he was listening round the door when he left the ammonia in the tt's)

complexnumber the salt water isn't really the point. The point is that you are not allowed to eat or drink anything in a science lab.

If the salty water was made in a beaker / stirred with a spatula there is a chance of residual acid/alkali/copper sulphate/chopped liver from whatever the equipment was last used for.

Also the idea of drinking your experiment is really not one to be encouraged.

Presumably he didn't mean drink the entire lot but just have a taste? (clutching at straws...)

I wonder what his risk assessments for these activities said

Damn. You lot have reminded me I should be writing a risk assessment and not arsing around on the Internet.

Oh man - if any of you did a-level/degree chem!

I remember getting my arse chewed out in my first ever chem lesson - naoh + hcl - I decided to dab to check!

EndoplasmicReticulum I am sure you are right, but I still think that it's a shame to give a teacher a hard time when he is just trying to make the lesson a bit more interesting.

I am probably being extremely naïve here, but are the risks from residuals really that worrying? Given that the equipment has been washed. You write of a 'chance'. I wonder how big that chance is.

Having said all that, I suppose rules is rules and should not be broken

Oh the risk is really really small.

I wouldn't take that chance though, I like my job and would quite like to keep it. Also don't really want to poison any of my students.

EndoplasmicReticulum I cannot fault what you are saying at all. And I bet you are a brilliant and motivating teacher without having to make your kids feel like vomiting.

But is there not a bit of room for fun when you are dealing with 15 y/o boys?

Yes, and if I wanted them to taste the saturated solution I'd do it outside the lab, in plastic cups.

I am all for fun. But you can be fun without being unsafe.

Is that the difference between what he did and what you would have done?

Thank you eoplasmicReticulum for responding to my picky bits.

(And thank you OP for making me think)

I agree with ER (as soon as I saw your name I knew you must be a scienctist!) it's not whether or not the salt water was dangerous, it's extremely bad practice. You can still make lessons fun without disregarding basic lab safety rules.

But making them a little bit 'dangerous' can give them the 'fun' edge.

The OP states that her son likes the teacher, and probably therefore enjoys his lessons (knowing it is a bit 'naughty')

Of course I am going to back down if people tell me it is illegal, and I am not a science teacher.

Head teacher DH fell about laughing when I read the OP to him. Reckons he should be suspended pending disciplinary hearing before he kills someone. (Quietly praying it is not his school)

Yes. I've not got anyone to taste salty water but have done tasting PTC paper (learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/ptc/)

In the corridor, outside the lab.

Not sure about "illegal" but it is basic guidelines, if a parent complained or one of the pupils had been put in danger through disregarding them then the teacher would be in a very tricky position.