School expels 4th grader, says he was handing out pot

A fourth grader at a Southwest Philadelphia school was expelled yesterday after taking 11 bags of marijuana to school and distributing them to students, a school district spokesman said.

The 10-year-old at Thomas G. Morton Elementary had the marijuana in his backpack when school officials searched it after a tip from another student, spokesman Fernando Gallard said.

When officials extended their search, two fourth-grade girls and a third-grade boy also had bags. They were suspended, Gallard said.

"We have no idea what the kids intended to do with it," he said. "At those ages, kids tend to be more curious than anything else."

The student who took the marijuana to Morton will likely be assigned to an alternative school "where he will have a more structured environment and counseling about substance abuse," Gallard said.

Officials don't know where he got the marijuana, Gallard said. Police are investigating.

In February, a South Philadelphia man was arrested after his son, a second grader, took packets of heroin to Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary School and distributed them to four classmates in gym class. The boys told police they thought it was candy.