High Life : A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Fire-Breathing Fun With Stunts in Class

A lot of strange things are going on in classrooms these days, and most of them can’t be found in the teachers’ lesson plans. Hot Topics wonders, “What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done in class?”

“I pierced my friend’s ear in wood shop with a 6-inch nail.” Kriss Melbardis, 17, junior, Dana Hills

“I put dry ice inside my teacher’s purse. She thought it was on fire, so she threw it on the floor and started jumping on it.” Jackie Bernal, 17, junior, Rosary

“I draw a face on my chin, laid down on a desk and performed ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.’ ” Elizabeth Yi, 16, sophomore, Villa Park

“I stuck a guy in his butt with a pencil, and the lead broke.” Melissa Birschbach, 16, sophomore, Orange

“During chemistry, I put too much of the chemical into the beaker; it wasn’t boiling, so I held the flame closer and it blew up. Then I wrote my name with ethanol on a desk and lit it on fire.” Barry Martin, 17, junior, University

“I stood up in the middle of class while my teacher was lecturing on Socrates and said, ‘Excuse me, but are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?’ ” Damien Forrest, 15, sophomore, Dana Hills

“I was in religion class and I went to the bathroom, then I walked into the wrong classroom.” Christina Gutierrez, 15, freshman, Rosary

“I dressed up as a canoe and recited transcendental poetry to my English class.” Roylyn Cabrera, 16, sophomore, Villa Park

“In chemistry, I inhaled natural gas, lit a match and breathed fire.” Peter Barney, 17, senior, University

“In junior high, my friends and I set up stacks of books about a foot high on our desks. We had a box of pencils and began to launch them toward the substitute teacher. He was so upset. We hit him every time. We also let the snake loose, and the sub was pretty upset, but he couldn’t find anyone to blame.” Peter Mazzarese, 16, sophomore, Dana Hills

“In the fourth grade I beat up this boy for making fun of my hair during our world heritage project.” Wemi Ajigbotase, 16, junior, Rosary

“In third grade, I stripped down to my underwear, got up on a desk and did a little dance for everyone, all while the teacher was outside talking to the principal. I got caught, of course.” Dany Kitchens, 15, sophomore, Villa Park

“I threw rocks in my horticulture class.” Eric Jaime, 18, senior, Orange

“We had to make up a puppet show to perform for my French class--in French. Four of my friends and I translated ‘Hangin’ Tough’ completely into French and made the puppets into New Kids on the Block.” Jenn Mancini, 16, junior, Dana Hills

“I was in Spanish class and we were playing charades. I was supposed to do an ant but I did a flying ant instead.” Jenny Miller, 18, senior, Rosary

“I fell asleep unknowingly during a test.” John Bogris, 15, sophomore, Villa Park

“I scorched a friend’s eyebrows with a Bunsen burner.” Tannaz Ghassemi, 18, senior, University

“I told the teacher we had a track meet, and the whole class just left.” Michael Trudeau, 16, sophomore, Dana Hills

“I traded class with my twin sister. Nobody knew the difference.” Sumita Patel, 16 sophomore, Villa Park

“I danced with a microphone pole.” Cris Tostado, 17, junior, Orange

Next Week’s Hot Topic: What’s the biggest problem in the school system today?