Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, N Germany. According to online bild.de waldorfschule (article in German), a 39 y/o male teacher made an explosion of a tube bomb (1 liter volume), packed with 'pupil's made' gunpowder, in a forest near the Free (Private) Waldorf in spring 2010 - his pupils were only 33 yards away from the explosion.

Parents reported the incident to the Luebeck district attorney after the school had played down the issue. The popular teacher was only reprimanded by the private school directorate then.

The production of an improvised explosive device (IED) is punishable under German Penal Code (3 years of prison).

Well, the anthroposophic Rudolf Steiner educational approaches are realised at privately organized Waldorf Schools. Many parents in Germany have loved to send their kids to this 'more practically' orientated private education system for decades, and paid the tuition for this special approach.

But, what kind of b.s. is this lesson by this 'overeager' teacher?

Pre-Taliban training? At least, gross endangerment of pupils!

What was the purpose of this demonstration? A teaching effect was surely there - did the teacher really consider all the consequences?

A copy effect is NOT deniable, what if a pupil emulate this b.s. and get killed or mutilated?

Producing gunpowder as part of chemistry lessons in terms of showing redox reactions or just exothermal reactions has always been quite acceptable but this is crossing a borderline.

If convicted the teacher might also lose his teaching license for life. Was this effect worth losing a job?