The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-03

as thew cross street or highway
The problem always is a perplex-'
ing one with traffic mounting in
volume everywhere. The adult is
we'll able to care for himself, and
frequently has only himself to
blame when he falls victim to an
accident. But with the child it IS
different, Lacking maturity, and
of an extremely active nature,
every youngster is an easy prey 70
the reckless driver and to his own
tnoughtlessness Particularly is
this true when schooltime roll.
around and large groups of children,
Gaily use the streets of town and
city to go to and from their
classes.
In many cities. large and small,
the traffic problem has become so
complex that there always is ad.
mittediy an inability to cope with
ii satisfactorily. The police force
il limited in number or there are
insufficient funds to provide any
thing like adequate protection Tor
all. The older folks under these
circumstances must be more watch
full, but what of the children?
Sponsors Safety Codes
Moterdom is supplying its own
answer and is fostering various
means of protection for the chill
dSen. It is sponsoring a child
safety movement which has found
favor from coast to coast and Is
endeavoring to educate the child ~
a knowledge of the dangers OF
traffic and to the best way the boy
or girl may ward off these hazards.
And in doing SO, motordom has
acted because OF an unwillingness
10 shoulder a responsibility for any
| deiinquencies of its members, fol
at the motorist who runs down Il
boy or girl no matter how unayoid
able it may be.
Through the organization OF the
schoolboy patrol and the further
ance Of safety instruction in the
schools. there is flouriShing a
movement to protect child life
which is welding a forceful in
fluence for good Accidents in
which children are involved no
longer are viewed as a cause for
upraiding motorists. but rather are
looked upon as calling for an edu-
cationaI program which will seek TO
lesson them at their source.
The boy or girl who is not contin.
uously warned against traffic dan
gers, and with whose makeup
caution has not become a vital
part, is an easy prey to these
dangers which for the most part
seem to be an inevitable result of
highly organized modern life.
The schoolboy patrol. sponsored
by many motor clubs, is system
which utilities the older boys in the
elementary schools as guardians of
those who are younger. 1t is main
tanned with the approval OF school
| authorities and the members are
| selected on certification OF princi-
pals.
Supplement Officers
There is no attempt to make traf
| fic officers out OF the boys. Their
duties are designed to be supple
mental to those of the policeman
who directs traffic. To avoid any
clash with the regular mode N
directing the movement of vehicles
| the boys are stationed on tbs
| sidewalk and gather the small chill
dren in groups. holding them in
check until it is safe for them 10
! cross.
| In this way, the schoolboy patrol.
| man assists the officers work with
| out abrogating any part of it, for
| while the policeman controls traf.
| fic, the youthful guardian directs
| the movements of the youngsters
who otherwise would tend to slow
ii up or otherwise complicate mat
! ters.
The patrol is organized with GER
trt. fnI tn
and lieutenants and they supervise
| the boys working under them.
| while the entire unit is under the
| direction of the school principal.
! The young patrolmen are sta
toned at intersections in the i'm
| mediate vicinity Of the schools
/ which they attend and are in.
| StTucted that their chief duty is 10
prevent children from getting into
1anger rather than to snatch theln
from it.
There is still another method il,
use in one Southern city by which
the older children protect theI.
juniors.
Certain older boys and girls going
In q particular direction are en-
tusteo WIN certain number OF
small children
'"'" ~ titI uutV 10 see them
sateiy out of the more congested dis
trict.
AS the younger ones reach the
DOCK IN which they live. they break
away from the main group. This
plan is said to work exceIIentlv and
has found considerable favor.
Where the patrols are organized
1t is the practice to award merit
medals and otherwise recognize suc.
cessful performance of duty. An
endeaVor usually is made to interest
the police authorities in the patrol
ana have members of the force ad.
dress meetings of the boys or other.
wise cooperate in the work. Repre-.
sentatives of the motor club which
fostering the movement at certain
intervals visit the schools and en-.
l deaY0F to strengthen fhA natrol AZ