The Crandall System Level I Mount Markham Elementary at West Winfield Arms their Children with Knowledge for Nonviolent Safety Level I of the "Crandall System" is directed to teaching general safety and awareness combined with escape techniques to boys and girls from Kingdergarten through 8th grade. Thanks to the efforts of Joan Evans, Kristi Gilbert and Debbie Kosmoski Grand Master Crandall and a team of his instructors and assistants where brought into the school to teach all the boys in girls in the school. arrangements were made by Debbie Kosmoski to have all the third graders bused in from Leonardsville to participate in this program. The first group consisted of 98 kindergarteners. Grand Master Crandall discussed safety and good health while reinforcing the ideas of not taking items from strangers, or letting strangers in the house or getting in a car with someone you did not know plus the idea of exercising and eating good meals. The key point in this development of a health and safe life revolved around the importance of the brain. As explained with each group Grand Master Crandall pointed out that the brain was the most important part of our body and was in fact the strength of our actions; that the brain, like any part of our body needed to be exercised to become strong and able to make good decisions. The best exercise for the brain is to read. To emphaasize this importance Grand Master Crandall donated 98 copies of his book "Best Handbook to Secure Living" to the this group so that each child in the kindergarten would have a copy of their own. The book discusses techniques and information that was being covered in the seminar he was teaching and would reinforce the information when the parents read the book with their sons and daughters. The mind was a key point in each of the presentations. That how we act and what we do depends on our mind's knowledge and awareness. That knowledge increases self-confidence and that practice, such as traditional rote memorization, increases physical skill and reaction. As the day progressed, the first and second graders from 10:00 to 11:30 and in the afternoon the third and fourth graders from 1:00 to 2:30 asked more complex questions and demonstrated a greater understanding of the importance of being safe when they were not with their parents. The underlying educational philosophy of the program is for students to understand self-defense and its relationship to others, whether potentially threatening or simply daily participants in their social surroundings. They are to understand ways to promote positive behavior from those around them and to discourage unwanted behavior. Students are taught to demonstrate and present personal and socially responsible behavior as well as to care for and respect themselves and others. They will recognize threats to themselves and their friends and be confident to offer safe alternatives to minimize the threat. Grand Master Crandall talks to the first group made up of 98 kindergarteners. Each kindergartener gets the opportunity to use the new knowledge in a fun-filled atmosphere of learning. Each kindergartener gets a book of information on safety authored by Grand Master Crandall. The enthusiasm and excitement of the students was at its highest level, yet the behavior and attentiveness were excellent. The teaching staff of the school assisted in organizing their individual classes as they came into the gym and took an active part in the physical learning segments with the children. 250 first and second graders watch as Grand Master Crandall demonstrates techniques and concepts of escape with Master Allen Hillicoss. Many students are selected from the group to demonstrate what they have seen and heard so that questions can be asked and answered. The first and second graders line up across from one of Grand Master Crandall's helpers so that they can all get that ever important personal and practical experience. From the first person in each line to the attacker a space is created so that once free students can turn and run without bumping into someone. Again Getting Away is the primary objective. The afternoon starts with a new group. Over 300 third and fourth graders, who have heard of the program all day from other students, are ready to go. The third and fourth graders arrive and the excitement builds while some of the techniques are demonstrated by Amanda and Travis. More excitement as individuals are given a chance to choose an attacker from Grand Master Crandall's team and demonstate their new skill. Master Hillicoss tries to hold on without success. Again individual students get a chance to demonstrate. Then everyone has a chance to learn by doing. The group that helped make this program possible. Top row: (left) Master Allen Hillicoss, Miss Ann Petkosek, school physical education teacher Debbie Kosmoski, Grand Master Clifford Crandall Jr., school physical education teacher Joan Evans, Miss Linda Moller. Bottom row: (left) Amanda Fiore, Zachary Keep, Christine Carpenter, Susanne Turner, Nicole Stanulevich, Travis Donley. Grand Master Crandall stated that it was truly a pleasure presenting the "Crandall System" to the students of this school. Not only were the students "up" and enthusiastic, but so were the teachers. Mrs. Carol Dumka, the principal, and the whole staff made us feel welcome and assisted us whenever possible.