“The F students are the inventors” is a quote from a video on TikTok posted on April 15, 2025, that suggests that the people who are ultimately the most successful got bad grades in school. The video’s audio has been used in over 20,000 videos on TikTok depicting students destroying their school-issued computers, and the trend has found its way to Arrowhead.
The trend has students putting mechanical pencil lead into the USB ports of their computers, which causes the lead to combust and smoke to come out of the computer. It can release toxic fumes and even cause fires. The trend has even caused a student to get charged with crimes in Belleville, New Jersey, according to local news station ABC 6 after participating in the trend, making the school evacuate.
Chromebooks being used recklessly and violently destroyed by students is nothing new for school districts across the nation, but because it’s so easy to participate in this new trend, it has reached new heights in popularity.
In an email sent to all students, Associate Principal Ms. Vogel warned students that damaging their Chromebooks on purpose would lead to serious consequences. “If you choose to participate in this inappropriate behavior, all repair costs of the district Chromebook will be charged… students involved may face disciplinary action from administration,” she wrote in the email.
Finally, it is against the school rules to destroy the school Chromebooks. Students who are caught could face consequences such as detention or suspension.
