Huntington Pre-School Children Get A Lesson On Respecting Law Enforcement

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (WCBS 880) - Police officers have been visiting the toddlers and pre-school-aged children at Rainbow Chimes School in Huntington, Long Island.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall Hears From The Little Children

If children respect law enforcement, they will be less likely to commit crimes as adults and Meredith Wiley of the group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids said quality, early education makes a big difference.

"You're not really telling them 'Don't commit crimes.' What you're doing is you're working with the teachers. We're working to get a statewide uniform standard set, which has curriculum that is designed to teach kids things like taking turns, sharing," she says.

Alan Kasof, the school's director, says it's part of their curriculum.

Kasof says having the children show respect to police officers, encouraging them to pay attention in class and sharing toys makes a difference.

"Humanizing police officers and law enforcement is a very important aspect of what we teach here from the time that they're toddlers," he told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall.