YORKTON - At its most recent meeting Yorkton Council learned first-hand about the School Safety Patrollers Program.
Grade 6 students from St. Paul’s School involved with the program made a presentation detailing what CAA School Safety Patrollers do, as a way to focus attention on the month of May being dedicated to the 4,100 School Safety Patrollers in Saskatchewan.
Patrollers help keep Saskatchewan school zones safe by helping schoolmate’s cross streets safely to and from school.
All CAA School Safety Patrollers must receive training from law enforcement and school safety patroller coordinators at the beginning of each school year.
Patrollers are also required to pass an exam regarding road safety and patroller procedures as well as have parent approval to participate in the Safety Patroller program.
In recognition of the program Dustin Duncan, Minister of Education has proclaimed May as CAA School Safety Patrol Month.
The delegation outlined that “In 1922, a gentleman by the name of Charles Hayes, President of the Chicago Motor Club, stopped his vehicle to let children cross the street and head to school. While he waited for them to cross, another vehicle was driving too fast and didn’t break on time. That is when Hayes felt there should be something done to help prevent any tragedy from ever happening. He thought that training older students to help younger children cross the street safely would be the solution. That is when the School Safety Patrol program was born. After a decade of the program’s inception, the motor vehicle and the pedestrian death rate for children dropped significantly.”
This year marks 100 years of the School Safety Patroller Program.
“Over the years, millions of youthful volunteers have served as School Safety Patrollers in 30 countries. CAA Saskatchewan began to support the program in 1951. Today approximately 4,100 patrollers take part in 150 schools around the province. CAA supplies training materials, supplies, stop paddles and reflective vests free of charge to each registered school,” noted the presentation.
The delegation did suggest the city could help in various ways with the program including encouraging the School Community RCMP Liaison Officer to become more actively involved in training and supporting the Safety Patroller programs currently registered with CAA Saskatchewan.
The city could also provide tokens of appreciation like gift cards, ice cream or hats, and speak with other communities about how they support their local school’s Safety Patroller programs.
The following schools in Yorkton have registered their school Safety Patrollers with CAA Saskatchewan: Dr. Brass Elementary School, M.C. Knoll School, St. Alphonsus School, St. Mary’s School, St. Michael’s School, St. Paul’s School and Yorkdale Central School.
