To the editor:

My wife and I recently visited a business, late in the afternoon, near 22nd and Ousdahl. School was letting out at Schwegler Elementary. What we witnessed was beyond our belief! Very young children, toddlers it appeared, trying to cross the streets to get home. Crossing Ousdahl and 23rd Street, which happens to be one of the busiest streets in Lawrence.

No adult supervision, crossing guards or anything to aid them. Huge tractor-trailers lumbering through the intersection at 40 mph, etc. The whole area packed with traffic and these kids weaving their way through it all. It was bizarre if not scary as hell!

For heaven’s sake, and the children’s too, can’t we afford a crossing guard to at least get them across 23rd Street? Sure, there’s a traffic signal there, but would you trust a bunch of giggly, talkative, distracted 7-year-olds to cross four lanes of intense traffic without some kind of help?