that's exactly what I came here to post. I find it even more troubling that the teacher was clearly aware of this possible outcome - going so far as to tell the kid to hide it from other teachers. but for all we know maybe he did speak up and was shushed by administration? who knows...pretty frustrating either way.

My bet is that the engineering teacher is the sole adult geek in this environment and is used to those around him acting this way. I feel for him. There's a personality that's overwhelmingly common in schools, that seeks conformity and uses their own ability to be frightened as a weapon against the weirdos. Perhaps someone can describe it better than me.

I'd say this is a case of collective stupidity punishing original thought. So I would phrase this exactly as "collective stupidity in authority turning people to mindless sheep".

And why would you have to be an engineering teacher to presume innocence here? This is a school; anyone involved should have been able to clarify everything in 5 seconds, even without the child explaining himself.

Welcome to 'murrica, kid. You better learn to censor yourself.

"never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence" isn't the case here I think. I think this is more about racial profiling more than anything.