SINGAPORE — In a shocking display of absolute disregard for school property, students in a local secondary school chemistry lab were found casually shattering test tubes after realizing they would face zero financial consequences.

“They’re free,” said student Kenny Fang, 16, right before dropping a test tube on the floor with the reckless abandon of a Roman emperor tossing gold coins to the masses. “Mr. Tang said they’re from the school budget, so technically, this is a my-parents-funded experience.”

The chaos reportedly began during a qualitative analysis experiment, when one student accidentally knocked over a test tube and was met not with punishment, but mild indifference. Realizing this loophole, others seized the opportunity to start “accidentally” sending glassware to its premature demise.

“First, it was just an accident,” said chemistry teacher Mr. Tang, who had lost all hope by the end of the period. “Then, I started hearing the distinct sound of students giggling before the glass hit the floor.”

Students were quick to justify their actions, citing scientific curiosity as their main motivation.

“I wanted to see if borosilicate glass was really that strong,” explained Taco Lin, 15, staring at the remnants of his fourth test tube casualty. “It was not.”

Another student, Bryan Chen, 16, claimed it was part of a social experiment. “This is basically an exploration of human psychology,” he said, balancing a test tube on the edge of the counter. “If breaking one test tube has no consequences, what about fifteen?”

Despite Mr. Tang’s desperate pleas to “treat lab equipment with respect,” by the end of the lesson, entire racks of test tubes had been decimated, leaving the lab looking like the aftermath in a rage room.

At press time, Mr Tang was sweeping the lab alone after his class ended, every stroke of his broom glass-tinkling, dust motes swirling in the air, an imaginary violin eking out a few dying notes.