Catherine Stimmel, 15, was expelled from Firestone High in Akron, Ohio, after she attempted to defend herself with a small canister of tear gas against two male classmates who assaulted her. School officials said that carrying a weapon on school grounds violated the code of student conduct, which is grounds for expulsion. The boys who attacked her were also expelled.

Catherine's parents attempted to delay her expulsion long enough to allow her to take her final exams so she wouldn't be failed, but the school board upheld her expulsion. On top of that, the mother of one of the boys who attacked Catherine has filed an assault charge against her for using the tear gas.

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