Mum to home-school Texas teen suspended for helping classmate in US

The student was suspended for a day last week when he carried his classmate to the nurse's office, disobeying his teacher. Photo / iStock

A Texas teenager who was suspended from school after helping a classmate who was having an asthma attack won't return to the school, the teen's mother said yesterday.
Mandy Cortes said she will home-school her 15-year-old rather than have him return to Gateway Middle School in Killeen.
Anthony Ruelas was suspended for a day last week when he carried his classmate to the nurse's office, disobeying his teacher.
The teacher had emailed the nurse when the attack began and the girl fell to the floor. A disciplinary form explained that the teacher was waiting for a response from the nurse when Anthony uttered an expletive about not waiting and picked up the girl, Cortes said.
School officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment yesterday but the Killeen school district last week said it "applauds the efforts of students who act in good faith to assist others in times of need".

Cortes said the girl later told her son that she was okay and that she didn't remember being carried to the nurse's office.
"I was proud of him for the way he handled the situation," Cortes said, saying her son had a big heart.
Cortes said she had been frustrated with the school as Anthony worked to overcome a learning disability. Last week's suspension persuaded her to home-school him, although she may try to enrol him in a public school next school year.