Evening star., 1931-06-07
LIFE AND LIBERTY,
ESSAY SUBJECTS
School Children Decide Test
of Highway Educational
Board.

Taking the preamble to the Consti-
tuition of the United States as their
cue, upward Of TOO, 900 school children
from all parts Of the country seem yir-
tually agreed that life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness" as the greatest
rewards for observing street and high
way safety rules. This was said at the
ofaces Of the Highway Education Board
today upon the closing Of It's tenth ma
tional street and highway safety cam
paign, which has been conducted this
Spring in elementary schools through
out the country.
Subject Of Campaign.
The campaign for school children
consisted Of an essay contest on the
subject my Rewards for Observing
Street and Highway Safety Rules" and
the board has been receiving essays
since the beginning Of May. A prelim-
mary reading of many>of the essays
received and the almost unvarying
unanimity with which the competitors
listed the above mentioned rewards as
among the most important, according
to the board, would indicate . general
trend toward uniform safety education
methods in all sections Of the country.
The general argument followed Is
that the observance OF trafnc rules gives
the individual life and limb with which
he Is at liberty to pursue his happiness,
whereas failure to observe such rules
will gain him nothing but cot in the
hospital. Even II an accident Is not
fatal, many children wrote, much OF
the individuals liberty Is taken away
for o more or less lengthy period OF
time and he may be deprived OF his
ability to the pursuit Of happiness Tor
the remainder of his life.
Many of the children listed other re-
wards. such as q clear conscience, the
knowledge that they were aiding mo-
torists and trafic officers by observing
safety rules and the resultant pleasure
which this knowledge brings, and the
happiness which they bring to their
parents by returning home each day
safe and sound. A number OF the chill
dren indulged In flights Of fancy, en-
viSioning large sums Of money as re-
wards from fond fathers and mothers
of children they would save, while one
boy announced that his study and OBJ
seryance Of trafic rules and regulations
would bring O future reward by making
1t possible for him to become a tramc
policeman WHEN he grows to manhood.
A girl from the Middle West announced
her intention of becoming a teacher IN
later life SO that she could teach chill
dren\the importance OF observing tratnc
safety rules.
In conjunction with the essay con-
test the board conducted safety les
son contest for teachers on the subject
Teaching the Rewards of Careful Con-
duct on Streets and Highways" To the
writer Of the best lesson in each State
the board will award q certificate OF
honor, and for the three best lessons
submitted throughout the country prizes
Of $500, $500 and 5000 will be presented
The winner Of first prize will also re-
ceive trip to washington with all ex-
penses paid.
For the essays by pupils, State prizes
Of SIS, $40 and IS and gold, silver and
bronze medals will be given. The mum.
ber of third prizes allotted to each STATE
depends upon the school enrolment
ranging from l to 23. The best essay
from each State IS also entered in q
national competition In which first priz'
is q trip to Washington with all ex'
penses paid, at which time the winner
is presented with q gold watch, while
second and third prizes are gold watches
All prizes are donated by the Nationa
Automobile Chamber Of Commerce.
The essay contest has been open u
pupils Of the nth, sixth, seventh ant
eighth grades. ii years Of age ant
under. Teachers, to be eligible for th
lesson contest, must be teaching in thl
eighth or lower grades.