EDUCATING THE CHILD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23055, 4 December 1936, Page 4

EDUCATING THE CHILD

THE SCHOOL PATROL SYSTEM By an Officer of the Automobile Association What does "Safety First" imply? Simply the preservation of life. For years a policy of safety first has been advocated, but are we any further ahead in eliminating fatal accidents? We have regulations, by-laws, signs, and other means by which we endeavour to eliminate accidents, but of what avail have they been? Some years ago, realising that there was something wrong with the method of working the safety first campaign, the Automobile Association of Otago set out to investigate the problem. The result was that we decided that we could do nothing with the adult, and that we should concentrate upon educating the child. The result was the establishment of school patrols.

Since its inauguration in Dunedin by the Automobile Association the system has been adopted by schools all over New Zealand and also in many parts of Australia.

It is of interest to note that during the whole of the time in which school patrols have been operating in Dunedin there has been only one accident at a school where the system has been employed, but in this case the victim was a pupil who had joined the school only the day before, and was not, therefore, conversant with the safety measures. The system has proved to be such a success that the Headmasters' Association is giving the Automobile Association its wholehearted support in furthering the good work. All that is required to make the system 100 per cent, efficient is the full support of the motorist. May I appeal to all motorists to assist in this great work of safety first by exercising special care in the vicinity of schools? A few minutes' delay is of no consequence, but a life lost is something that can never be replaced. I