The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1955-09-10
Contlnued From PAGE. One.

ated participation and sup
port of every state and com.
munity organization, yet, M
individual citizen should fee
that his personal contribu-
ton to this program is moi
needed for there is no i'm
nunity from public ser"ie;
where child safety Is The
prime consideration. Safety
promotion activities extended
TO children is not a matter
Of personal choice rather
it is one Of moral obligation
It is not enough to say
that each child will resume
safety instruction upon re-
turning to classrooms. 1t is
wrong to assume that this
safety instruction is qua
rantee Of self-sufficiency in
any of our school-age young
sterS. 1t would most certainly
be a gross failure of respon-
slbility should but a single
child be struck down in death
or be injured in a highway
mishap because our combined
efforts we're not complete.
Official programming in
corpates the activities Of all
enforcement agencies the
Registry of Motor Vehicles,
the Massachusetts, State
Police, the Metropolitan Dis
trict Police, and the police
of each community. Enforce
ment is strong, important
segment of the overall pro-
gram, taking over when other
phases require support OF a
disciplinary character.
Education agencies, from
the state to local levels, are
continually engaged in Sc
lected safety education pro-
motions which extend into /
all institutions of learning
from the kindergarten on
through to high school grades.
Engineering makes its many
important contributions, parti-
cipating in many phases of
planning. Official reports in
dictate splendid safety achieve
ments, not only in new con-
struction projects but also in
the correction of such de-
ficiencies in safety construc-
ton as is necessary.
There is never a let-down
in the program operations of
official state and community
agencies, their work to create
greater safety for school chill
dren Of all ages is continu-
Gus. Not with standing this
constant application OF man
power and resources, more
must be done. Their work
must be further augmented
by complete public support
program.
Admittedly, the Massachu-
sets Highway Safety Com
l11ittee places a great burden
of responsibility on the motor
list who, fortunately, has al
ways proved to be a most
willing ally and co-worker in
highway safety The motor
list Is expected and rightly
so to be cooperative anc
receptive to program sugges-
tons because he operates q
machine which is capable OF
serious consequence.
The responsibility of The
motorist is full-time; ne ha,
within his control the mean,
10 perform great good or ire
mendous narm. There mus
be this complete cooperation
and support from every driver
on the highways or the pro
gram of child safety in the
old Bay State will fail. A
moment of carelessness or in.
attention could be disastrou,
for one or more highwa,
users and, this is particul.
arly true when we are deal
ing with children who occupy
any portion of the Travelled
way.
There are others thar
motorists upon whom respon.
Sibility is no less demanding
Among these are the parent:
and guardians Of our schoo,
children and their duties. both
legal and moral, are clearly
defined. BY nature, a parents
concern for the safety and
well-being of a child is in
stinctive and this inherent
quality defies denial. This
strong attachment for youth
is one of the most potent
protective influences relied
upon in accident prevention
1t is small wonder, then
vention agencies lean SC
heavily upon parents and
guardians. Yet despite these
favorable qualities, failures
have been reported as a re-
suit of responsibility being
shirked or relegated to others
1t is said that even the
strongest chain will snap at
its weakest link. These weak
neSses in the chain are comp
arabic TO those found in the