Sorry, Sandman.
I indeed have read more into the article than I should have. I am mainly caught on the topic that the student protested the activity. The teacher did state that if he had a problem, he should leave and that is what the 15 year-old did.
I think my problem is more with the teacher. Maybe if I protested having to do homework, he would have told me that if I had a problem with it, I didn't have to do it.
The teacher, rather than provide an incentive (positive or negative) to participate, simply allowed the student to leave.