MARIJUANA FOUND ON 6-YEAR-OLD BOY

No Charges Filed, But Student Faces Discipline From JPS

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.