Schools
Providence Catholic Students, Staff Take Anti-Texting Pledge
Students, including those from Orland Park and nearby, and staff from the Catholic school recently took a pledge to ignore an increasingly common distraction while driving.
Providence Catholic High School students, faculty and staff recently participated in AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign, which educates the community on the dangers of texting while driving.
“The campaign’s message is clear and very compelling,” said Donald Sebestyen, Principal of PCHS. Hundreds of students, those who are already driving and those who expect to get that license soon, participated in a campaign aimed at alerting kids about the potential dangers of not paying attention to the road while sitting behind the wheel.
The documentary refused to sugar coat the potential consequences of drivers distracted by text messages and more. "It shared the real life stories of families whose lives were shattered in an instant as a result of teens that were texting while driving," said Jamie O'Brien, communications director at PCHS.
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The Pledge:
"It states, no text message, email, website or video is worth the risk of endangering my life or the lives of others on the road. I pledge to never text and drive and will take action to educate others about the dangers of texting while driving.”
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PCHS students were shown the film, “The Last Text.”
Kyle Murphy, activities director and teacher at PCHS, told the students during their lunch break that "most people will respond to a text within seconds." The pressure from friends who keep texting messages like: "Hey, where are you or where you at?" are not worth the risk of a car accident.
While ceremoniously signing the "It Can Wait" banner that covered a wall in the cafeteria, Mary Therese Bonaguro, 17, Orland Park, said she doesn't answer a text while driving. She gives that job to whomever is in the passenger seat.
Maggie Coroso, 17, Palos Park, said she puts the phone on silent "so it doesn't distract me. Somtimes I pull over (to answer it.)"
Show of Support
Illinois State Representatives Renée Kosel, (R-New Lenox) and Larry Walsh Jr., Joliet, who is a graduate of PCHS, showed their support and joined students, faculty and staff by signing their names to the “It Can Wait” banner that was displayed in the school’s cafeteria.
For more information on the AT&T “It Can Wait” campaign, please visit www.itcanwait.com.
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