Violence Prevention
South Philadelphia

Super Pooper Scooper Project
Sharswood

Researching Abandoned Cars
Philadelphia

Transition to Middle School
Philadelphia

School Issues
Perry County

Community Improvement
Cumberland County

School Violence
Bala Cynwyd

Historical Markers, Gladwyne

Safety Problem, Pittsburgh

Community Literacy, Sharon City

Share your project/story!

Alleviating a Safety Problem
Submitted by Woolslair Elementary, Pittsburgh
Email: lawillia@pps.pgh.pa.us

Woolslair elementary students work with an architect in Pittsburgh.

Woolslair Elementary School's second graders were actively engaged in their Kids Around Town Project. After brainstorming with classmates, teachers Brenda Friel and Athene Hopkins, and educational assistant Karen Stapinski, the children identified a safety problem in front of the school. For several days they tallied traffic and counted pedestrian violations. With assistance from Evelyn Murrin of the League of Women Voters, the students contacted Councilman Jim Ferlo. Mr. Ferlo, along with the second graders, marched around the school with posters petitioning drivers to SLOW DOWN. The students also wrote letters to city officials requesting placement of a guardrail along the front of the school.

Their efforts paid off. The guardrail is in place, jaywalking has ceased, and drivers in the area seem to be more sensitive to the fact that they are driving in a school zone. The students visited City Council to present Ferlo with a certificate of appreciation. During the students visit, they spoke with Council members, visited the Mayor's Office, and were filmed for the City's cable television program.

Photo: William Rydberg, PHOTON, Courtesy Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation

Share your project/story!

Home| About KAT | The KAT Model | Order Materials | Lesson Plans

Join the Discussion | Resource Exchange | Your Projects | Suggestions

Copyright © 1996-1999 - League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund