therealbulldogs
05-03-2004, 08:28 PM
Marijuana found on 6-year-old boy
No charges filed, but student faces discipline from JPS
By Peggy Matthews
pmatthews@clarionledger.com
A teacher might be used to finding rocks or frogs in little boys' pockets, but a kindergartner with marijuana in his pocket shocked everybody.
The 6-year-old from Raines Elementary School was on a field trip at the Jackson zoo on Friday when he showed the marijuana to several other students, who told the teacher, Jackson Police Department spokesman Robert Graham said.
"It was not like he had a big bag of weed in his pocket ... He had some seeds and little stems ... not even enough to roll a joint," said Graham.
No charges were filed against the child, whose name was not released. Police took him back to school and notified his parents. Graham said the boy "knew what he had."
"He was, naturally, scared. He knew he was in trouble," Graham said.
The child told police he had found the marijuana on the porch of his home.
There would be no way to prove whose it was, Graham said.
School Principal Melissa McCray did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Jackson Public Schools' policy is to expel any student caught with drugs, although the superintendent can modify the discipline.
"Unless there are some extenuating circumstances, the zero tolerance (policy) is usually adhered to ... This breaks my heart, to think that any child ... would ever have access to illegal drugs," said Peggy Crowell, assistant superintendent for student services and alternative education.
If a kindergartner was expelled, he would go to one of seven positive action centers at elementary schools throughout the district.
Besides the normal school work, the centers can provide help from social workers and mental health specialists, and the family is involved in the process.
Katrina and Mark Jones of Jackson, who were at the zoo with a different group of school children, said they saw officials surround the boy in the parking lot.
"It's kind of hard to believe, a kindergartner. Oh, my God ... this is utterly ridiculous," Katrina Jones said.
May Richard, a school crossing guard and parent of a child at Raines Elementary, was equally surprised.
"I can't believe it. My goodness, what is this world coming to?" Richard asked.
Ronald Drabman, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said "this is a phenomenon that I think you will see from time to time ... He was probably just trying to be a show off, but, of course, he impressed the wrong people and he got in trouble."
Sheba Moses, director of guest services at the zoo, said the incident had nothing to do with the zoo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter Cathy Hayden contributed to this story.
Taken from the Clarion Ledger in Mississippi
No charges filed, but student faces discipline from JPS
By Peggy Matthews
pmatthews@clarionledger.com
A teacher might be used to finding rocks or frogs in little boys' pockets, but a kindergartner with marijuana in his pocket shocked everybody.
The 6-year-old from Raines Elementary School was on a field trip at the Jackson zoo on Friday when he showed the marijuana to several other students, who told the teacher, Jackson Police Department spokesman Robert Graham said.
"It was not like he had a big bag of weed in his pocket ... He had some seeds and little stems ... not even enough to roll a joint," said Graham.
No charges were filed against the child, whose name was not released. Police took him back to school and notified his parents. Graham said the boy "knew what he had."
"He was, naturally, scared. He knew he was in trouble," Graham said.
The child told police he had found the marijuana on the porch of his home.
There would be no way to prove whose it was, Graham said.
School Principal Melissa McCray did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Jackson Public Schools' policy is to expel any student caught with drugs, although the superintendent can modify the discipline.
"Unless there are some extenuating circumstances, the zero tolerance (policy) is usually adhered to ... This breaks my heart, to think that any child ... would ever have access to illegal drugs," said Peggy Crowell, assistant superintendent for student services and alternative education.
If a kindergartner was expelled, he would go to one of seven positive action centers at elementary schools throughout the district.
Besides the normal school work, the centers can provide help from social workers and mental health specialists, and the family is involved in the process.
Katrina and Mark Jones of Jackson, who were at the zoo with a different group of school children, said they saw officials surround the boy in the parking lot.
"It's kind of hard to believe, a kindergartner. Oh, my God ... this is utterly ridiculous," Katrina Jones said.
May Richard, a school crossing guard and parent of a child at Raines Elementary, was equally surprised.
"I can't believe it. My goodness, what is this world coming to?" Richard asked.
Ronald Drabman, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said "this is a phenomenon that I think you will see from time to time ... He was probably just trying to be a show off, but, of course, he impressed the wrong people and he got in trouble."
Sheba Moses, director of guest services at the zoo, said the incident had nothing to do with the zoo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter Cathy Hayden contributed to this story.
Taken from the Clarion Ledger in Mississippi