Take A Trip To Safety Town
Wouldn’t we all want our towns to be safety towns? Over at Illini Elementary School, they had a week-long program called Safety Town. The idea was to teach the children on safety points while having fun.
Based on the report published by BND.com:
But if you asked their parents or members of the Fairview Heights Parks and Recreation or Police departments what went on, they’d say kids participated in an educational program to keep themselves safe at home, at school and on the street.
“The idea is to teach kids in a way that they don’t even know they’re learning,” program director Dana Schaltenbrand said. “They learn about traffic safety, school bus safety, playground safety, first aid, how to stay out of trouble on the Internet, how to use 9-1-1 and the dangers of things that are poisonous. But we try to do in a way that they think they are just having fun.”
Frank Strother stood with a video camera Thursday on the side of a giant grid laid out on the Illini School gym floor and taped as his five-year-old daughter Ellie drove between wooden models of buildings in a pedal powered go-kart.
“It’s a great way to get her out of the house and doing something,” Strother said. “And if she learns anything that can help keep her safe, that’s a bonus.”
I was quite glad to read all about a project like this one. If you ask me, all towns in the United States should have similar activities. If you have been following this blog, you would know by now that I strongly believe that proper behavior is developed, instilled, and reinforced while people are still young. Training begins at home and in made stronger in outside social circles. Learning is made even more effective when the subjects are open to the learning process. For children, learning while having fun is the best way to pick up concepts and values.
Another good thing about the program is that it does not cost that much. According to Dana Schaltenbrand, the program director, the program only costs $35 for a week’s sessions. Not bad, eh? I am sure that even the most cash strapped school district can afford this sort of activity. I wonder if other school districts will pick up this program and carry out their own versions? I certainly hope so.
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Posted on June 13th, 2008 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, K-6, News, Parents, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Students
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