Evening star., 1932-03-27
DISTRICT SCHOOLBOY PATROLS
PROVE GREAT SAFETY FACTOR
Trained Students Perform Service of High
Merit in Protecting the Lives of
Washington Children.

schools last year small paper was
edited and written by the class;
although safety was part of its
message, it contained valuable informa-
| ton on current events in which most
of the children show an unusual
amount of interest.
For the seventh, eighth and ninth
graders. the subject matter included
the study and research Of current and
past safety problems in social-science
classes and violent debates on the sub
ject. Analysis is made of traffic regu-
lations and safety laws as a part OF
the prescribed course III .ivics.
Court Held Last Year.
In one Of the schools last year a
court" was organized to try offenders
against violation of school discipline
and against the schoolboy patrol. This
court was under the supervision of a
faculty advisor during the hours 1t was
in session. 1t was a complete replica
OF municipal court, having a judge.
jury, attorneys and bailiffs All pro-
cedure was handled with marked dig
nifty and the boys pleaded their cases
with the earneStneSS shown In cases in
volving thousands of dollars.
One of the most important features
/ incident to the conclusion Of the school
term is the Schoolboy Patrol rally,
which is held at some large hall or
| auditorium. Following the customary
program Of elaborate festivities, Merit
of Award certificates are bestowed upon
the outstanding members of the corps.
Those receiving honors are the boys
whose work during the year was salts
factory, who were faithful to duty and
who by their excellent conduct becom-
ing patrolman while at their desig-
mated posts proved themselves, in the
opinion Of school teachers and princi-
pals, worthy of the honor Last year
l l,946 boys in the District received such
honors, Al in Virginia and Sc in Mary
land, making grand total of 2,043
certificates. That so many received
these coveted parchmentS is indicative
OF the intense interest shown by the
members in this new field of work,
In addition, a general citation of
merit award medal was presented to
the most outstanding and distinguished
boy selected from each school. In the
Nations Capital l78 patrolmen were
honored. with in Maryland and in
Virginia, making a tctal of 1873 medals.
The highest award that can be be-
slowed upon patrolman is the spe-
cial citation medal for faithful and
distinguished service in preventing ac-
cidentS and saving some child from
harm at risk Of his own life. The SO
who received this honor proved them
selves heroic in saving the lives of
students who had it not been for the
immediate attention and alertness
might never walk again. Inspector E.
w. Brown of the Traffic Bureau made
the presentations and congratulated the
boys on the good work they are per-
forming and the valuable service they
are rendering to their classmates
School Girl Patrol.
Much has been said Of the ability of
the boys, but one must not overlook the
fact that there is a Schoolgirl Patrol
consisting entirely of girls from the
Immaculate Conception Academy. They
are to be congratulated as much as, if
not more than, the boys. The patrol
is considered by authorities as the most
efficient in the city and the same con-
scientious attention to duty was exer-
cised by it as distinguished the boy
patrols.
The official insignia for patrol men,
bers is the white Sam Browne belt.
made Of Pinch material Special
badges fer officers are worn on the left
breast or lft arm. The size of the
patrol varies In accordance with street
conditions and the size of the student
body. Ordinarily. the average member
ship quota includes IL patrolmen, a
captain, lieutenant and oftentimes a
sergeant may be appointed.
In briefly summarizing this years
safety activities and welfare work, one
finds that in the District Of Columbia
and nearby Maryland and Virginia
there were 8 new patrols organized,
making total of 2O4 safety units, with
an aggregate enrolment of approx
mately 5000 boys.