Evening star., 1941-06-15
End Of School Adds
To Traffic Hazards
On City's Streets
Extra Precautions
Urged in Interest Of
ChiIdren's Safety
BY MRS. p. c. ELLETT,
President, District Congress- Of Parents
and Teachers.


Once more we are nearing the
end of a school year-and the end
of the formal activities of the
parent teacher associations.
There always is a touch OF sad
ness about the closing of a school
vear-as well as a realization OF ac-
complishments. Frequently 1t means
the severing of the links which have
been forged during The year OF work.
ing and playing together, and in its
stead there is but the recollection
of these happy times. But all eX-
perience makes for progress and L
am sure that these past months
have been rich in worthwhile eX-
perience for every member who has
had a part in our work-however
small that part may have been.
When the school term ends on
Wednesday, literally thousands OF
young people again will be released
from routine and planned days, and
will be thronging our places OF rec
reation. Whether these recreation
spots be public Fairgrounds, SWIM
ming pools, the parks or commercial
places of amusement, there will be
thousands and thousands of young
people on our streets at all hours
of the day-and frequently part of
the night.
Motorists Should Be Careful.
Extra precautions will have to be
taken by those of us who drive auto
nobiles-and those of us who are
pedestrians. For with our streets
carrying this added load of hu-
manity at all hours, instead of just
at the opening and closing school
hours, we shall be taxed to capacity
to provide safe city.
Safety is not the responsibility of
one group of citizenS-it is the
charge of all the people of our
Metropolitan Area. Too much cau-
ton cannot be practiced by pedes-
trians and certainly caution should
be the watchWord of every automo-
bile driver.
Already the number Of traffic IA
talities in Washington this year has
from present indications when 194l
bows out of the picture, we shall
have new all-time high of traffic
fatalities written into our record.
Many-perhap I should say all
Of these traffic fatalities could be
prevented if every one realized to
the full his or her own responsibility.
Stepping off the curb without first
making sure that the street is clear
of moving vehicles, crossing at other
than the CroSSWalkS, crossing against
lights, failure to observe stop signs
and slow signs, failure to recognize
the rights of the pedestrian in traffic.
driving at excessive Speed-all these
and many more contribute to our
traffic record. Adults, by assuming
their full share of responsibility,
can stop these accidents. But adults
have the added burden of alertness
where children are concerned.
Young ObliviOuS to Danger.
Children at play are so engrossed
that frequently they are unaware of
the danger to themselves when they
the streets. Therefore, particularly
in residential areas, drivers of cars
should be doubly cautious and should
at all times confine the speed of
their cars to an easily controlled
pace.
II each one OF us would accept our
individual responsibility. accidents
would be reduced to a minimum. So
let's adopt as our slogan for the sum-
mer, Il alone am responsible" and
see If there is not a reduction in our
traffic accidents. Let us try to make
the summer not only happy one
for our children and ourselves-but
a safe one as well.
AT the meeting of the Board of
Managers Tuesday the following new
committee chairmen were named:
Safety, Mrs. G. D. Lowe; publica-
tions, Mrs. Edward Uhthoff; finance.
Anderson Tackett; hospitality, Mrs.
L. Allan Sharp; honor roll, Mrs.
G. A. Lingebach; assistant honor
roll, Mrs. R. D. Moss; art, Mrs.
Nicolai Cikovsky; news letter, Mrs.
Richard Alexander; social hygiene,
Mrs. Evelyn Bright Buckley; dele
gates, Mrs. Paul o. GottWalS; sum-
mer roundup, Mrs. R. M. Graham;
physically handicapped child, Mrs.
M. Joseph Hanley; research, Mrs.
B. w. Eldred; Sanders Memorial
Library, Mrs. Andrew Stewart; ways
and means, Mrs Charles B. Sinclair;
assistant, Mrs. Willard Jefferis;
membership, Mrs. Henry Lipscomb;
child hygiene, Mrs. Mabel Hubbell;
director of the department of pub
licity, Mrs. Edward R. Seal; Sunday
column editor, Mrs. Frank Borden;
record book, Mrs. Thelma Richard
son.
The following new representatives
from school divisions were elected
by their various presidents and be-
come members of the Board of Man
ayers; Sixth, Mrs. Harry Mertz;
fifth, Mrs. William Watt; seventh,
Mrs. William Linden.
Mrs. Harry N. Stull was elected
second vice president to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation
of Mrs. Alma Hudson, whose
resignation was accepted because
of her election to the first vice presi-
dency.
Langley Junior High.
At the final association meeting
entertainment was furnished by
the musical organizations of the
school. The following officers were
installed by Mrs. Richard Purcell:
Mrs. P. A. Taylor, president; Mrs.
William Watt, first vice president;
Mrs. Edwin Uhthoff, second vice
president; Miss Mary Ellen Meiring,
recording secretary; Mrs. Gladys
Palmer, treasurer; Mrs. Dorothy
Bennett, corresponding secretary;
Harry Baker, principal, honorary
vice president.