Students Go by the Book in Safety Program

Under a backdrop of children drawing on coloring books filled with safety messages, school and law enforcement officials announced a new program Thursday that seeks to help keep youngsters safe at school.

The United Way-sponsored effort, called Play it Safe, provides thousands of the books to Ventura County’s school-age children, and educators and public safety authorities hope they will teach children to watch out for trouble.

“More than simply a picture in a coloring book, each drawing is a springboard that can lead parents and children into a discussion,” Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said at announcement ceremonies at the Ventura County Government Center.

Bradbury was joined by a host of school superintendents and United Way organizers in announcing the Play it Safe campaign, which began by distributing more than 50,000 of the coloring books to area students.

Eugene Junette, a former aerospace industry manager who founded Play it Safe International in 1974, told the administrators that giving children an opportunity to draw pictures of safety lessons helps reinforce the message.

Junette said the group, which is spending $9,000 in United Way funds to pay for the books, began when a group of parents formed to make schools a safer environment for children.

“We had 19,922 coloring books when we started,” he said. “Today we have more than 26.5 million in 61 countries.”

United Way spokesman David Menchaca said the effort would branch out to older children later this school year.

“We’re looking to develop into the upper-grade levels by bringing law enforcement agencies to the school districts to discuss safety,” Menchaca said. “We want to bring in those people that have been involved in gangs and violence and troubles with the law to discuss a better way of life for youth.”

Thirteen-year-old Jim Murdoch, a student at Cabrillo Middle School in Ventura, said trouble on campus can happen at any time.

“It can get pretty violent if you say anything,” he said. “They take it real personally. This program will help, but I’m not sure about the coloring books.”