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.
| SURVEY |
| A soda machine gives you
2 cans for the price of 1. Do you keep both? |
|
Yes
No |
|
| |
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."
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