Help to keep our kids safe

After two months of summer fun, it's time to get back to work. Yes, it's that time of year again - time for homework, research papers, tests, after-school activities, ball games and more.

But it's also time for residents to be more careful in their daily travels.

Classes begin today for students at Taylor County Schools and on Wednesday for Campbellsville and Kentucky Christian schools.

We urge drivers to be extra cautious in the mornings and afternoons. There will be children near roads and streets, especially in the residential neighborhoods, waiting to catch buses and walking to school. Oftentimes, these are very young children in their first year or two of school and who haven't quite learned that playing or jumping around while they're waiting for their ride isn't the best thing to do.

There are children as young as 3 attending head start and preschool programs and those are the ones we need to be extra cautious about.

Drivers also need to remember that if the stop arm is out, it means "stop" - even on school grounds.

Parents can help students keep their minds on getting to and from school safely by making sure their children's hands are free and that all of their belongings are contained and not likely to fall out of a backpack.

If a child drops something, he or she will usually stop and pick it up, and that could be dangerous in the event of an oncoming car. A child's small stature can be even harder to see if they are bent over picking up something they have dropped.

Everyone in the community must help to ensure that our children get to school and back safely.

This year's school children are our future, let's all look out for them.