Students learn street smarts on Walk to School Day

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

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Crossing guard Jack Stevenson knows when he's not watching, the streets can be dangerous places for pedestrians.

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Wednesday marked International Walk to School Day.

Crossing guard Jack Stevenson helped make sure all of the walkers headed to Bruce Wagner Elementary School in Lakeland arrived there safely.

"You know these are my kids, at least while I cross them," he said.

Stevenson knows when he's not watching, the streets can be dangerous places for pedestrians.

"There's some very bad situations and I want them to avoid it, as much as possible," he said.

In honor of the day, the school taught the students street smarts.

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PTA volunteers helped design a crash course, complete with three zones.

"Our PTA spent a lot of time putting together the props, the pretend parking lots and the pretend school bus and the pretend intersection," said physical education coach Kim Morgan. "To show them because these are things they do in their everyday lives."

Morgan guided students in each grade level, showing them the do's and dont's of pushing cross walk buttons, from what to do if a ball rolls into the street to properly crossing in front of a school bus.

"A bus could easily hit you if you go behind it," said 4th grader Shane Schmucker.

It's a fun way to teach a serious lesson.

"It's important because one day, it could save their lives," Morgan said.

Walk to School Day started in 1997 in Chicago. Students at schools around the world now participate.