This Texas teenager was suspended from school for helping his asthmatic classmate

A 15-year-old student in Texas was suspended last week for helping a classmate who was having an asthma attack, KCEN reports.

Anthony Ruelas, a student at Gateway Middle School in Kileen, Texas, carried a fellow student to the nurse’s office when she collapsed out of her chair during an asthma attack, the television station reports. The class’ teacher emailed the school nurse and waited for a response instead of allowing the girl to leave the room.

“I broke rules but, she need help, like she needed help,” Ruelas said.

The teacher’s note suspending Ruelas for two days confirmed that he helped the student against the teacher’s orders after she fell from her chair, according to Fox News Latino.

“As I waited for a response from the nurse, the student fell out of her chair to the floor,” the note said. “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.”

Killeen Independent School District superintendent John Craft released a statement saying the district won’t discuss the matter publicly:

The District is unable to provide details related to the matter as it pertains to information involving student discipline and/or health records,” the statement said. “In an effort to protect students’ rights to confidentiality granted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the details of the investigation and/or disciplinary actions may not be provided by the district at this time. The Killeen ISD maintains the safety of our students, staff and campuses as a priority and applauds the efforts of students who act in good faith to assist others in times of need.

Ruelas’ mother, Mandy Cortes, said at first she was not impressed with her son for being suspended, but then understood that he had been helping a classmate. “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,” Cortes told KCEN.