Teacher loses hand when paperweight explodes

[bekkiz]

I was ready to get into a whole "what's the matter with kids these days" rap, but then I read the article. What a (fill in favorite expliative here)!

Ventura teacher's hand severed when paperweight explodes
Associated Press
VENTURA, Calif. - Part of a teacher's hand was blown off when a 40 mm round the instructor used as a paperweight on his desk exploded in his classroom.

Robert Colla struck the round with an object Monday afternoon while teaching 20 to 25 students at the Ventura Adult Education Center on Valentine Road.

Part of Colla's right hand was severed and he suffered severe burns and minor shrapnel wounds to his forearms and torso, fire Capt. Tom Weinell said. No one else was injured.

Colla was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was described only as stable.

"It was just a horrible accident," said Dennis Huston, who teaches computer design alongside Colla. Huston said he had his back turned to Colla and was only about three feet away when he heard a loud bang.

Colla found the 40 mm round while hunting years ago, Huston said. He used it as a paperweight and "obviously he didn't think the round was live," Huston said.

The center is operated by the Ventura Unified School District.

 

[Daxx]

At what point do you think that you should have that thing checked out to see if it's live ammo!?!?

Unfortunately, the teacher lost his hand ... I'm glad, though, that nothing happened to a student! Imagine if a student were goofing around and that happened?!!?

Lesson -- if you're not sure of the safety of something you're using in the classroom, have it checked out by a pro!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh my--at first I thought it was a prank gone awry--but the intelligence of the teacher is lacking for having found such a thing and bringing it to school. Dummy.

 

[Hannathy]

I certainly hope he is fired for bringing a weapon into school. If a kid can get suspended and recomended for expulsion for realizing he had a swiss army knife in his pocket accidently and immediately going to the office and turning it in a teacher should surely get fired for bringing live ammo into a school. What an idiot thank God no student was hurt or even killed.