Evening journal., 1919-08-02
To Help Save ChiIdren's Lives

| 70 ne zone IS Tor the most part only 10
spread the news Of what has been ac-
complished in the st. Louis schools
under The leadership Of DR.. L. G. Payne,
Of Harris Teachers College.
"The problem OF introducing one
more subject into an already over
crowded curriculum is something to be
undertaken with respect and fear. DR..
Payne had so much respect for the
feelings Of teachers that he did not
even attempt this. He did something
different and much better; instead Of
Introducing a new subject, safety, he
introduced safety into all subjects.
During the first four grades the
! effort is particularly directed toward
the formation OF habits of safe conduct.
over against the lntuitive appreciation
OF danger are developed normal re-
actions, which. with repetition, become
| established as safe habits. In these
early grades The dangers treated must
obviously be Of the simpler type, such
as crossing the street, playing with
matches and getting on and. Off OF
ears. The dangers Furthermore are
persOnal-the action of the child in
general is directed toward his own
safety, In The following grades not
only are dangers Of greater cOmpleXity
treated, but the points Of view are sue
cessiyely developed in the child OF re-
spOnsibility for the safety OF his i'm
mediate associates, and Of the COM
munity and OF The nation. In other
words, the content OF the idea of re-
sDonsibility is gradually developed out
ward from the individual himself so as
finally to include the whole Of society.
with the development OF the chlld's
reasOnsing powers, The emphasis is also
shifted from the inculcatOn of habits
to the development of more reasoned
behavior. SO much for the nature Of
the work in general.
Now let me give you some details.
There are plenty OF examples 10 be
had in the safety field for arithmetic
classes. The statistics OF accidents,
particularly the tendency toward a de-
crease in the field OF industry and the
great increase in the field Of public
accidents, particularly in connection
with traiflc, lend themselves admirably
not only TO examples in percentage and
other simpler operations, but to a treat
ment by means Of graphs which is
most interesting. The interest Of the
children in this work and its educa-
tional value are unmistakable.
"The reading classes get their mate |
rial largely from the newspapers. It is |
needless TO say that the preventive side |
is emphasized in the reading as well as |
the more narrowing tale Of accidents |
themselves.
"The drawing classes find a live in /
terest in the illustration OF accident
situations and In the preparation Of
slogans that will make a vivid appeal to
the eye as well as TO the mind.
"The geography classes concern
themselves witt such matters as the
Iife-saving service on the coast, the
1re-hazard in cities, the forest fire
hazard and other hazards that have a
localized interest.
.The nature classes study the safety
motive as it unfolds itself in the vari-
Dus adaptations Of animals and plants
10 their environment, beaks and claws
for defense, wings and swift legs for
escape, protective coloring for con-
cealment
The work is carried into the dra-
matte field first by means Of series
Of tableaux and second by means Of
simple plays, both prepared and exc
,uted by the children.
"The work and interest do not stop, /,
lowever, with what is purely theoreti-
al In the ST. Louis schools there has
)een developed, not strictly a system
II self-goyernment, but an advisory
ystem which works in close cooper
Ition with the school authorities. This
s worked through a series OF commit
ees Of pupils that have to do with all
he school interests in which the chill
ren may be properly concerned. I had
he privilege Of attending one Of the
requent luncheons OF the chairman Of
hese mmitttees-children Of course ,
and can testify to the eager and ef- )
ective and practical interest that the
hildren are showing in the problem :
( developing their school community Z
long right lines. Among the most i'm
Ortant Of these committees are those
hat have to do with school safety;
Or Instance. the street crossing COM :
littee, which has its regular school
0licemen-children, Of cOurse-at the
rossing each day to help to direct
rafilc and to the little children safely
cross the street. On school picnics the
afety committee is particularly on the Z
ob and takes a vivid interest in see
lg that nothing happens/to mar the Z
applness Of the day. z
"irhe work of The committees does
ct stop at the school. Some Of the :
visit shops and even the
oroner's Office: there are conferences =
etween the school committees and the Z
lfety committees in the shops, which Z
is safe to say promote a wholesome 4
vmpathy on both sides" "