Evening star., 1926-10-16
|EARLY CLASS BELL
ADVANCES IN FAVOR
BaIIoting in The Star Poll
Shows Majority Prefers :
Later School Opening Hour.

Balloting today in The Star poll on
the question of changing school hours
In the interest of greater safety for
the children was marked by an in
crease in the number favoring $3.50
or S:45, although the majority con-
tinued to indorse moving the opening
hour up to $50.
A count of the ballots received since
yesterday showed 68 per cent plus In
favor of $50; 10 per cent plus advo-
eating $50 or S:45. and II per cent
plus in favor Of leaving the opening
hour as at present, o'clock.
Advocating the $50 opening, one
parent pointed out the children then
could be released earlier and avoid the
afternoon traffic. This writer feared
that II the hour were fixed at $3.50
many children would leave home at
the usual time and loiter en- route to
school. adding to the danger Of ncci
dent.
Urges Street Closing.
Mrs. William A. Maidens. 37O4 S
street, opposing any change, advocat
ed closing streets in front Of schools
declaring that when a street is be
ing repaired 1t is closed and all traftle
has to detour Why not close al
school streets during school hours
and give the children a chances"
Mrs. A, c.. Darr, 1922 Warren street
opposing opening the schools later
than 8 o'clock, suggests that traHt
be required to come to a stop. n
school crossings during the periods
when children are arriving and leaV
ing.
c. E. Mosher, 918 M street, objected
to any change, and also urged closing
school streets at opening time, cloSlne
time and during recess.
The most concerted effort to safe
guard the lives of children on the
streets that has been made in recent
years was launched yesterday after
noon, when traffic, police and schoo
officials met at luncheon at the WI
| lard Hotel and pledged themselve:
| to cooperate to the fullest extent II
the school safety movement.
New Suggestions Cleaned.
| These various department heads
have been working together in spread
ing the safety doctrine in the past
but the good effect of having then
seated around q table exchanging
views freely on the question was ap
parent in the number of new sugges
lions that were forthcoming.
The luncheon was arranged by Z
P. Clark of the American AutomO
bile Association primarily to get thu
Endorsement of the officials for thu
permanent establishment OF tn
schoolboy safety patrol. but befor'
| the conference ended every person
present had advanced one or mor'
new ideas for reducing the number o.
| .o~;n,,O ocoiIcntc fn children
In bringing the conference to
| close. Mr.. Clark said he realized tina
there Is need for educational worl
among the motorists as well as thu
| children and that he had plans fo
| that phase Of the movement. He out
| lined proposal to issue courtes!
! cards to motorists who are noticed
showing exceptional care near schoo
| buildings and the writing or caut1oI
| letters to drivers who display a lacl
of courtesy In school zones.
| How North Carolina Acts.
| Coleman Roberts, who helped or
ganize school boy patrols IN Norti
| Carolina, explained that in his Stat'
| the patrol boys hlod up a red flag t.
| traffic while leading groups Of chill
| dren across the streets near schools
and the suggestion impressed the loca
| authorities present.
ARRANGEMENTS were completed 10
| the awarding of prizes to the boy
who make the best records as mem
bers Of the school patrol system dur
| ing the scholastic year and the con
ferring Of distinguished service med
ais on boys who perform unusua
service, such as stopping a child wh'
is about to dart out In front Of NOV
l 1n1 ho h
| $100 offered by Traffic Directo
Eldridge for prizes to patrol boy
would be divided into 10 awards IL
order to stimulate interest.
| Director Eldridge told Supt. O
Schools Ballou that he would see tina
school slow" signs are erected nea
all schools not already provided will
them If the superintendent obtains {
list of where they are still needed
| Autos Increase 1900 Annually.
The director also predicted tina
eventually all busy corners nea1
school buildings will have to be pro
vided with traffic control lights
pointing out that the problem o
safeguarding the children will be
come more important as the numbe
of automobiles increases. He re-
called that the number Of vehicle!
Is increasing at the rate Of abou
1900 a year A traffic light tha
| could be operated by a patrol DO!
from a hand switch at the curb ma,
be tried out at Thomson School
| Twelfth and L streets.
DR.. Ballou urged the other Officials
present not to allow the school safet.
movement to rest with the organiza
1 pa,
| it should be decided to stagger tn,
school hours, he said, other precau
| tionary measures would be needed t,
| solve the problem of street safet.
permanently.
| Supt. of Police Hesse offered tn,
cooperation Of the Police Depart
ment in any undertaking that will
save the lives Of children, but de
clared that all Of the effort Of tn,
police and school authorities will b,
in vain unless parents cooperate b,
| instilling into their children tn,
necessity for being careful on tn,
| streets.
| Isaac Cans, active in a number O
civic organizations, presided at tn
| luncheon. E. G.. Graham, presiden
of the school board, indorsed the plal
of awarding medals to the patrol boy
| for deeds or Valor and promised t.
CO. operate in keeping alive the schoo
safety movement. Ben w. Murch, ii
charge of safety work in the schools
told Of the enthusiasm with which th'
boys took up the patrol plan.
| 1t was agreed that representative.
of the various departments of the cdt,
government would get together again
from time to time in furtherance o
| the school safety program.