“DONT’S” FOR PUPILS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 246, 31 July 1935, Page 6

“DONT’S” FOR PUPILS

SAFETY OF SMALL CHILDREN.

BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME.

Since the tragic death of a school girl near Hastings a few weeks ago parents and school authorities have been making every endeavour to impress upon school children a number of “don’ts,” advice to children regarding their actions while going to or from school.

At the request of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board teachers are giving warning at frequent .and regular intervals to children. The Board has also issued a circular letter to all teachers incorporating a series of “don’ts” drawn up in simple language by Mr E. Bissell (headmaster of the Mahora School). These are as, follow:

(a) Boys and girls on their way to and from school are not on any account to stop and talk to strange men. Hurry on with your classmates. (b) Do not take pennies for sweets or any favours from any strange person.

(e) If any person whom you do not know offers to take you home on his bicycle, say “No thank you,” and walk on.

(d) Do not on any account go for a ride on your bicycle with anyone you do not know!.

(e) If a strange person asks you to ride in bis motor-car, kindly say “No, thank you,” and hurry on. (f) If you are afraid of a man or youth, or if he is folloAving you, walk in at the nearest gate and knock at the door, .or call out loudly. (g) Keep AAuth your class-mates. Don’t go to or from school alone. Position in Ashburton. When the list was referred to two headmasters in Ashburton this morning, they agreed that Avhile it Avas comprehensive it Avas too drastic for full endorsement in Ashburton. They thought that the list might Avell apply to districts of small population, Avhere children have long distances to go to school, often along lonely roads, but in the Borough all tho items did not apply. They pointed out that from the time a pupil takes his schoolbag at his home and starts for school till he puts his bag back at bis homo, his safety and general conduct are the responsibility of the .teachers, avlio at frequent intervals impressed on the children tho necessity of going straight home after being released from school. “I tell the children to go straight home and report to their parents; alter that tho responsibility rests Avitli the parents,” said one headmaster. Both the headmasters said that the children were ahvays ready to report instances Avhere they had been folloAAed or accosted by strangers, or where they imagined such had been the case, but these cases Avere not frequent. Most of the complaints Avere groundless, though they were all investigated. . The chief fear of teachers m Ashburton, they said, centred in the general motor traffic on the streets, and added that many motorists drove past the schools at a much faster speed than Avas consistent Avitli safety to pupils leaving the school giounds. .