Bob CollinsIn Texas, it’s probably best if you have nothing to do with anyone having an asthma attack in school.
A week or so ago, a student was suspended from school and ordered to attend an alternative school after she gave a wheezing student gasping for air her emergency inhaler. The victim of that attack was suspended too, according to news reports.
Today comes the story of Anthony Ruelas, 15, who saw his eighth grade classmate “wheezing and gagging” for three minutes on Tuesday morning, according to KCEN in Waco.
So he picked the student up and carried her to the nurse’s office.
Now, he’s suspended too.
“I was like what? I’m suspended for this? Like, I was trying to help her,” said Ruelas.
According to Ruelas, the teacher was waiting on an email from the nurse and told the class to remain calm and stay in their seats. Fearing for the girl’s health, Ruelas didn’t listen and after several minutes of inaction, went against the teacher’s wishes to help his friend.
Ruelas’ referral form from his teacher reads in her handwriting:
“During 5th period another student complained that she couldn’t breathe and was having an asthma attack. As I waited for a response from the nurse the student fell out of her chair to the floor. Anthony proceeded to go over and pick her up, saying ‘f—k that we ain’t got time to wait for no email from the nurse.’ He walks out of class and carries the other student to the nurse.”
“I broke rules but, she need help, like she needed help,” said Ruelas.
“I don’t, ya know think, he should have used that language, but as far as getting suspended for walking out of class, he could have saved her life,” said Cortes.
The school district released a statement saying privacy rules prevent it from talking about the incident.
“Especially with it being an alternative school I feel like the kids hear enough of ‘they’re bad’ or their behavior, or you know, and for them to not be rewarded for really something that is brave, ya know, he is a hero to me,” the boy’s mother said.
Yesterday, a school official called asking why young Cortes Ruelas wasn’t in class, the mother says. She reminded her he’d been suspended.
