Madera city officials and law enforcers talked about graffiti to third graders at Berenda Elementary School on Wednesday morning and even arranged a small re-enactment at the end where cops allowed two students to “arrest” a man for spraying graffiti.
Children were excited and completely engaged with speakers, who told them to be the eyes for the city and explained why vandalizing private or public properties is wrong.
Ron Hammond, of the city’s graffiti abatement street department, asked students if they own a phone and almost everyone raised their hands. He then asked them, “Would you like it if I painted or wrote my name on your phone?” The children shouted “no!”
Hammond explained to them this was how owners feel when someone spray paints their property...