The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-29
Pupils to Compete
in Safety Campaign

Washington, D. c.. Oct. 25.-
Seeking to reduce the number Of
automobile accidents, which take
an annual toll of thousands Of
children's lives. the Highway and
Highway Transport Education
Committee is announcing ma
-tional safety campaign among
grammer school pupils and gram
mer school teachers.
The campaign takes the form Of
two national essay contests. One
is among pupils Of the fifth. sixth,
seventh and eighth grades and the
other is among grammer school
teachers, who. are being invited to
prepare lessons teaching children
safe behavior on the highways.
How I Can Make the Highways
More Safe is. the subject on which
children are asked to prepare es-
says.
Four hundred fifty state prizes
are being offered through the COM
mittee by the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce in the hope
that pupils will be stimulated to
participate. The prizes have an
aggregate value of $4,000 and are
distributed among the states on
basis of elementary school enroll
ment. Teachers are offered three
national prizes, the first Of which
is $500 in cash and trip to Wash
ington. The second and third
prizes are $500 and 5000 respec-
lively.
An enth husiastic response from
every section. of the country has
greeted the announcement State.
city and county superintendent
of schools are lending the weight
of their influence to the campaign
and bringing the contests to the at
tention ofepupils and teachers un-
der their jurisdiction.
Mothers club, civic organizations
chambers of commerce, safety
councils and Sother organizations
that are interested in the welfare
of the children of the country are
assisting the committee in the ma
donal campaign which Will culmi-
nate with the observance Of Ma
tiunal Safety Week December to
10, The contests close Saturday,
December. 10. when all essays and
lessons are to be in the hands OF
the principals of schools. After
December 10 the best essays and
the best lessons from each COM
munity will be chosen by compe-
tent committees and then forward
ed to the state committee to be des-
ignated by the state superintendent
Of schools, or. other Influential per-
sons. After the best essays anc the
best lessons have been chosen Tor
various states and territorial pos
sessions, the state prizes in the pu-
pills contest win be awarded and
the manuscripts receiving state
honors will then be forwarded to
the committee in Washington.
Arrangements are being made
for distinguished educators to read
the state essays and the state les
sons and to choose therefrom the
ones entitled to the national hon.
ors.
DR.. John J.. Tigert, United States
Commissioner of Education, who
is chairman OF the Highway and
Highway Transport Education
Committee. has written the state
and city superintendents requesting
assistance. In his letter. DR.. Tigert
said: 'In order to reduce the ap-
palling number of accidents On
our streets and highways, wish to
call your attention to the safety Cd
ucational program Of the Highway
and Highway Transport Education
Comittee. If not inconsistent with
your policies, i trust we may have
your hearty cooperation.
The committee. which has OF
fices in the Willard Building. is
answering several of the inquiries
daily from principals. teachers and
pupils, who have signified their in
tention Of participating in the
campaign.
Leads. S. D.. Oct. 27.-Blood-
hounds have been brought here in
an effort to trace the man. whose
VOC.