Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-09
BY FREpER1c J, HAsK1N


coppet is a new and popular institu-
ton in this city. She is not to be con-
fused with the woman policeman who
goes around in pursuit of tho way
ward girl. Tho coppet is a children's
traffic officer. She gives her services
to make dangerous street crossings
safe. and all tho pay she draws is in
smiles from the children. Washington
has 100 coppets. and Mrs Ellis Logan,
who Is in charge of tho force, says
that she can use 500.
The idea came to Washington when
New York mothers were taking their
children to school during the milk
all sorts of trouble and made every
effort to see that their children got
to school safely.
Interest was aroused in the hazards
to which children are exposed on the
streets, and tho question was raised:
Why shouldn't city organize the
women who could give half an hour a
day or just half an hour a week to
get the children safely across streets
where no traffic officers are stationed.
Mrs. Logan thought Washington
could. The city traffic department
liked the idea and agreed to back up
the corps and to give instructions.
The plan was first tried out at tho
Wilson Normal School. where the
pupils are children in the first four
trades and in the kindergarten. These
youngsters, practically all under 10
years, have had dangerous routes to
travel. A car line runs on one side
of the school and two other lines run
parallel with this. two and three
blocks away.
Mrs. Logan regarded tho street car
crossing by this school as a good place
to demonstrate tho work of the cop
pet. She and three other volunteers
were broken in by the head of the city
traffic department one morning Mt
$40. and for half an hour they were
kept busy plotting troops of school
children between the four sidewalks
of the crossing.
CHILDREN LIKE THE IDEA
Tho children took with enthusiasm
to the mamma policeman. as they
at once nicknamed the volunteer traf-
flee officers. They also responded to
the efforts of the women to teach
them how to cross the streets. Dang
ors OF diagonal crossing and of neg
lecting to watch for automobiles were
explained so that the children would
be moro careful at corners unprotcct-
ed by traffic guardians.
From that beginning tho project
spread to 15 school centers in one
week, and 1t is being extended almost
as rapidly now. Even in the suburbs.
women have volunteered to patrol the
railroad crossings near school build
ings. One notably dangerous subur-
ban crossing not far from a school is
now being regularly guarded at school
time
Tho corps of coppets Is being or
ganized systematically. Each woman
who volunteers is listed for the tins
she can give. whether at $3.50. IL or
o'clock. Records are kept to show
hot har rhn Ia n lay
only one or two of the five school
days.
IL 1t happens that the coppet can
not be at her post, she II expected to
supply = substitute. remembering that
tho requirements for . coppct aro
love for children. Mrs. Logan had
one experience with waiting among
q group of workers who should have
been Watching traffic. even tho things
had Stacked up for a few minutes.
She explained to them plainly that
during the half hour on duty 4 cop
pet must be alert every instant. Her
presence means that the children de-
pend on her instead Of looking out for
themselves. end she must tako care
OF them. There has been no conver-
sation between traffic squads on duty
since.
NO FUSS OR FEATHERS
The protection of school children on
tho street is being developed along
tho simplest possible lines. Tho cop
pet needs no special uniform. A
, white band above each elbow is the
only insignia sho wears. The duties
can be mastered in a half hour period.
Mrs Logan finds. The coppet simply
helps the children across the street
between two corne.r. and holds up
traffic when necessary to mako tho
street safe for children.
At present the work Is being dons
mostly at corners nearest tho school-
These aro tho crossings used by tho
greatest number of children. As tho
number of volunteers from a neigh
borhood increases. however. the SCR
vice is being extended to dangerous
crossings farther from the school
buildings.
At every center. Mrs. Logan places
four women. There must be one. she
says. for each corner. 80 that traffic
in every direction may be efficiently
watched. and so that the children
may be assisted across the four cross
walks. Tho traffic department has
agreed to back up tho coppets in the
event OF their reporting cases OF
speeding or refusal to obey signals.
SO far thero has been no difficulty
of this sort. The city is heartily CO.
operating with tho volunteer traffic
officers. But In tho event of trouble.
tho four women to a crossing would
Insure that drivers number would
bo taken and. too, there would be
witnesses.
Mrs. Logan Is getting letters. telc-
phone calls, and visits every day from
women who are anxious to help. Ono
woman who was visiting in Washing
ton for a month. arranged TO give
-~ino time each day to the children.
Another. n woman OF 70. still apry
| and alert, was eager TO help. She
said that she had been looking for
civic welfare work and this was
something she could do.
I'VE have given our money TO the
children of Europe" says Mrs. Logan.
For our own children VIC ask only a
littIe time. II is woman's cork,