Evening star., 1938-09-11
25O, 900 School Children Wage
Successful Traffic Crusade

not be charged with the responsibility
Of directing vehicular trafic nor be
allowed to do 30, other than signalling
to q motorist who approaches the
crossing after the student pedestrians
have left the curb.
5000 Patrol Boys Here.
Washington's School Safety Patrol
men number about 5000.
They are chosen with the greatest
care and discrimination by the princi-
pals or faculty advisers Of schools,
not only because to certain extent
the lives of their classmates depend
upon ther acceptance Of responsi-
bility, but because Of the great in
fluence they often have in character
building among their associates. Alb
solute punctuality and dependability
as to attendance are also prime req
uisites. Practically every School
Safety Patrol received an annual
Award Of Merit in the form Of q
certificate.
This certificate is signed here In
the District Of Columbia by MAJ
Brown, superintendent Of police: Rich
ard NJ Ham, director Of safety for the
local A. A. A. Motor Club; Robert w.
Eaves, chairman, Street Safety Com
mittee, District public schools, and the
principal Of each school.
In addition to this certificate of
merit, the National Board Of Manage
ment Of the Three As also awards
other insignia to outstanding members
Of each patrol as well as medals to
those who save lives.
Lead Annual Parades.
These outstanding patrols are elect
ed to lead the annual parades first
held in the Nations Capital AZ a
purely local affair and now annually
participated in upon national scale
by representatives from all of the
School Safety Patrols throughout the
entire United States.
The national service Of A. A. A.
School Safety Patrols in safeguarding
lives of their classmates has been pub
licly commended by President Roose-
welt. Gen. John J. Pershing and many
other national figures.
Mr.. Cleveland says "Although the
battle is a harder one each school year
with the constantly increasing number
Of persons driving motor cars upon
the streets Of Washington, every one
connected with our organization 1,
determined to make our safety effort,
to protect the lives Of little children
of paramount importance"
This summer the A. A. A. has beer
endeavoring to combat the mounting
death rate among children on vaca.
ton from the schools of the Washing.
ton area by having some $50 of it.
wintertime School Safety Patrols vol.
unteer for service upon the corner!
where there are no traffic lights II
communities in which children are 60
ing to and from the white and col
ored municipal Fairgrounds.
Patrols Raised TO 1858.
When the fatalities reached 10 thes
patrols were increased to 1865 to NEE
the city's grave emergency.
In addition to bearing the entire ex
pense of the School Safety Patrols
which is very considerable one, bu
one OF its most worthwhile civic con
tributions," to quote Mr.. Singer, tn
American Automobile Association ais
issues literally tons, of safety litera
ture to the school children of America
During the last school year, for in
stance, it had on display, in schoc
buildings and classrooms throughou
the United States, over 100000
posters dramatizing suggestions 70
avoiding traffic hazards. It also sup
piled the 100000 loose-leaf lesso,
sheets used by elementary teachers II
an effort to meet effectively today
traffic problems among their pupil,
Recently assembled and issued un
der A. A. A. sponsorship is its "Cours
in Trafhc Safety and Driving 70
High Schools" and "Sportsmanlik
Driving" just of the press. Both hav
been approved by our Board of Edu
cation for use in our school system.
Only this last summer the A. A.
tested out in cooperation with tn
I pupils and teachers of one of Wash
ington's largest summer schools
series Of pamphlets it is soon to re
lease under the heading. "Favorit
Fable Traffic Lessons" Based upol
"Aesop's Fables" they especially stres
the greatest known traffic dangers o
today among little children, with sug
gestions as to how to avoid them.