My first reaction was that this was
overkill. However, after thinking about it, the kid was warned and did it
anyway. The only thing that keeps me from saying the book should have been
thrown at him is the statement from Pepsi that says he couldn't have
manipulated the machine from the outside, and the fact that the school should
have gotten someone to fix the machine immediately after learning of the
problem.
So, given both sets of circumstances, the
child should be punished for disobeying, but not suspended. Otherwise he
gets the impression that 1) stealing is ok, and 2) he can do what he wants with
impunity. The school should accept responsibility for allowing the second
incident by not repairing the faulty machine.
Charles Mims
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 12:26 PM
To: 'The Sandbox Discussion List'
Subject: [Sndbox] 'Taking Two' Talk Of Town
'Taking Two' Talk Of Town
Student Punished For Keeping Extra Soda From Machine
RIO RANCHO, N.M. --
A Rio Rancho teen was slapped with an in-school suspension for taking both
sodas that came out of a vending machine, when he had only paid for one.
That story, first reported on KOAT Action 7 News, was the talk of the
town Thursday. It was the buzz on morning radio, topped local newscasts and was
the talk of parents in the Rio Rancho School District.
On
Monday, Rio Rancho student Mason Kisner, 12, said he bought a can of pop at a
school vending machine, and instead of getting one can, he received two.
Kisner said he spread the word, and other students tried to get in on the
deal. A teacher who saw Kisner getting the two sodas on Monday told him not to
do it again. But Kisner said the teacher saw him get another two sodas for the
price of one on Tuesday.
The boy said the teacher called him a thief and accused him of trying to
teach other students how to steal. He was written up, given a two-day in-school
suspension and the incident will appear on his permanent school record.
"I'm flabbergasted, bewildered, dumbfounded. I can't think of another
word to describe how I feel about this incident," said Edward Kisner, the boy's
father. "What kind of character is this showing Mason?"
"It makes me feel very sad that I'm going to be thought as a thief later
on in my life," Mason Kisner said. "Heck, I might not get in a good college or
get a good job because on my permanent record it will say that when I was a kid,
I stole."
Rio Rancho Public Schools issued a written statement: "On Monday a
teacher observed Mason manipulating the soft drink machine at the school. The
teacher advised Mason that getting two sodas for the price of one is the
equivalent to stealing. When the teacher observed Mason doing the same thing
again on Tuesday, she wrote him up."
However, according to Pepsi Cola, which distributes the machines, a
problem like this one with a vending machine is usually a programming error. A
company representative said the student could not have manipulated the machine
from the outside.
"I'm very disappointed I haven't gotten a phone call from the school
resending Mason's suspension at this point," said Edward Kisner. "You know, when
you say you're wrong, it's not a sign of weakness."
|
Copyright 2003 by TheNewMexicoChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
________________________________
Changes to your subscription (unsubs, nomail, digest) can be made by going to http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
