The Times

Thursday, November 24, 1960, page 6 (of 24)

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PTA Asks Scooter License Age Hike

By GRACE WHIPPLE Students who own motor scooters or other vehicles are more likely to have poor grades. The strong correlation between the two was shown in a recent investigation conducted by the PTA of Ponce de Leon Junior High School. Also cited in the report were numerous accidents caused by reckless teenage driving. These and other facts have prompted the Ponce de Leon PTA to take issue with the Florida minimum age law for driver's licenses. At a recent meeting, the school's Parent Teacher's Association adopted a resolution in favor of changing in the Florida statutes the minimum age requirement for learner's permits to 16 and for driver's licenses to 17. The present limits are 14 for a permit and 16 for a license. The resolution, read by the legislative chairman, Mrs. Sam Silver, was greeted by the association with enthusiastic applause and unanimously adopted. Scooter Accidents Action on the resolution was taken after an investigation of the traffic situation at Ponce and several incidents occurred involving motor scooters. The investigation showed that the lives of children are being endangered by the tremendous number of traffic accidents which government statistics prove are due, in large part, to the reckless driving of teenagers. Also cited was the relationship between vehicle ownership and poor grades. Finally, it showed that thousands of dollars of tax payers' money are being used for parking space for the convenience of students while there exists a shortage of competent teachers and classrooms. Where does the resolution go from here? "Currently," explains Mrs. Silver, "it is being circulated to all schools in the Dade County area." Council Meeting It will then be presented at the December meeting of the Dade County Council of the PTA. If it is adopted, the Council will then turn it over to the Florida Congress of PTA which, if it adopts the resolution, will begin necessary legislative procedures for the proposed change. "It certainly is a step in the right direction," says Ponce de Leon principal, J. J. Norton. So far the movement for improved safety regarding teenage drivers and school traffic conditions has met with no resistance from the students. "In fact," explained Norton, "a safety meeting with owners of motor scooters has been scheduled to discuss the situation." Assistant Police Chief Delbert Edwards of the Coral Gables Police terms the resolution "a definite safety factor." It would be a big help since "it would give more opportunity for specialized driver training in the high schools," believes Chief Edwards. Favorable Approval The resolution, so far, seems to have met with favorable approval. Whether it will gain support and end up in the state legislature will be decided in the coming months, according to Mrs. John Lipscomb, president of the Ponce de Leon PTA. If it does, "there will probably be powerful lobbies against the resolution." What are its chance for being passed? Mrs. Lipscomb declined an opinion saying, "I'm not a politician." Coral Gables is seeking a 10-year agreement with Metro on the operation of its new auto inspection station on Ponce de Leon Blvd. The station was put into operation unexpectedly Monday when the delapidated station on San Lorenzo finally gave out and City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. made the decision to open the new facility a week ahead of the date last agreed upon. Actually, the station had been scheduled to be placed in operation earlier but a parts defects caused a delay. Long-Terms Tuesday, the Commission decided to ask Metro for the longterm agreement which would have a 30-day clause allowing Metro to cancel out, if the City failed to meet minimum standards set by the county. The present agreement with Metro is a 30-day cancellation type which offers the city little security towards amortization of its financial obligations. Estimated Income Estimated gross income for the new inspection facility is expected to be $37,000 this year, with a net of $24,000. The new station, unlike the old and most of the other stations throughout the county, will be able to handle trucks. It is expected to become one of the busiest operations in the county.

Gables High PTA To Sponsor College Night

The Coral Gables High School Parent-Teachers Association will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Representatives and admission officers of 33 colleges will be special guests for this College Night program with Lief Erickson, president of the Student Council, presiding. All parents of Junior and Senior students and the Senior students themselves are invited to attend and take advantage of the 20 minute periods of information these college representatives have made available. Parents and students may have interviews with any three colleges of their choice. The colleges represented will be: Agnes Scott, Clemson, Baylor, Emory, Florida State, Florida Southern, University of South Florida, Georgia Tech, Cornell, M.I.T., Notre Dame, Radcliffe, Stetson, Tulane, Wheaton, Yale, Columbia, Wesleyan (Macon, Ga.), Vassar, North Carolina and Georgia. At the close of the meeting everyone is invited to stay for refreshments in the cafeteria.

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Teenage Scooter Owners Are Opposed To It

By GRACE WHIPPLE Parents and teachers at Ponce de Leon Junior High School say it will. Students say it won't. The point of controversy is the recent resolution passed by the Ponce de Leon PTA. It advocates raising the state minimum age requirements for driver permits and licenses. The resolution was the result of a study which showed a high number of teenage accidents and poor grades due to vehicle ownership. It is not finding favor among those it affects the most — the 15-year-olds — present and prospective motor scooter owners. "It would go over like a lead balloon," believes Greg Morton, 14, of 4000 Lybyer Ave. A chorus of "yeahs" and affirmative nods came from the crowd of teenage boys discussing the resolution. "It would only lead to guys driving around without licenses," said ninth grader, Jerry de Feo, "It wouldn't help." Jerry, a scooter owner for three and a half months, says his grades are "average," and he has had only one accident. "Some lady in a car hit me, so it wasn't my fault." Most of the students expressing opinions agreed that motor scooters are more conducive to getting good grades than bad. Lon Fellenz, 14, of 6610 Castenda, said if he gets bad grades, the motor scooter goes — parents' orders. "So I have a B average," he grinned. "I hope it won't go through," said Hank Higginbothan when asked what he thought of the resolution. Hank, another 14-year-old, said he has had two motor scooters; but if any bad grades show up, he won't have any. Carl Self, 14, of 536 San Lorenzo, agrees with the idea that the resolution will lead to driving without licenses by teenagers. Carl, a scooter owner for six months, has a clean record — no accidents. In regard to the recent safety meeting held by the school for vehicle owners, Carl said it was "a good meeting. I think the students learned a lot from it." Expressing one advantage of motor scooters, Jim Walker, 5045 SW 74th Ter., said, "I don't think the resolution is very good. If the kids can't let off steam by riding scooters, they'll get in fights." So the comments go. The controversial resolution may become a state law. Until then the 14-year-olds continue to hang on to the present permits which allow them motor scooter freedom and the right to drive a car when with a licensed driver. TOM FELLENZ . . . B Average JIM WALKER . . . Let Off Steam HANK HIGGINBOTHAM . . . Now Let's See

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Steven Raymond Is Gaining Weight

Steven Curtis Raymond, born Nov. 2 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Raymond, 6500 SW 61st Ter., at Doctors' Hospital, weighed 5 lbs., 12 ozs., at birth. He is now a patient at Variety Children's Hospital where he is gaining in weight but still has 12 ounces to regain his birth weight by Caesarian operation, his mother reports. Mrs. Raymond has returned home and was herself a bed patient for some time.

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Ice Skater Maybe?

Someone with an unusual desire removed a 3-foot high numeral eight from the marquee at Lowe's Riviera Theater and made off with it, Police said the theft occurred sometime before 8:43 a.m. Sunday.

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