'COURAGEOUS' ELEMENTARY STUDENT TURNED IN POT BEARER, DISTRICT SAYS

City school district officials are crediting a "courageous" student
with reporting another student who police said brought 11 bags of
marijuana to Morton Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The 10-year-old boy who allegedly brought the drugs and gave some to
three other students was suspended and likely will be transferred to
an alternative program the district runs for students in grades three
through five, said Fernando Gallard, a district spokesman.

"There is counseling that we provide in situations like this,"
Gallard said. "When you are dealing with younger students, you have
to make sure that they understand the consequences of their actions."
As for the student who notified an assistant principal at the school
on 63rd Street near Woodland Avenue, Gallard called that child "courageous."

"The good news that we can walk away with is that a student came
forward to provide the information," he said.

The two fourth-grade girls and the third-grade boy who received drugs
from the boy with the marijuana were suspended and could face further
discipline pending the outcome of an investigation, Gallard said.

He said it was not yet clear if the boy had sold or had given the
drugs to the other students.

No charges had been filed as of yesterday afternoon, police said.