Common—Sense Rules

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 722, 23 July 1929, Page 8

Common—Sense Rules

Fine Lessons for School Children

ALTHOUGH the Minister of Education has announced in Parliament that the new school syllabus contains provision for fire lessons and fire drill, the course is still given at the discretion of the master. Pending further representation to the authorities to have. it, made compulsory, the United Fire Brigades Association is training the children in .many. schools in fireprevention methods. "

Fire is man‘s most subtle enemy. causing him millions of pounds loss annually. To combat this menace successfully a comprehensive knowledge of firefighting methods, with common ;sense hints upon its prevention, is Inecess-lry. Nor can the assimilation of this knowledge start too early in life, for one day—whether it be in ‘youth or in middle age—the moment will come when the immediate ques‘tion arises: “What is the first step ‘I should take to quench this fire?” ‘ If fire-fighting is taught throughout jthe primary and secondary schools, \the response to the question will come lreadily—and it will be correct. If, on lthe other hand, no thought of fire has lprevious‘y been raised, an hysterical Irush to the telephone will probably ‘i'esult, and the chances of a save will 'be divided between providence and ‘the fire brigade. Two years ago the Fire Brigades’ ‘Association secured a promise from ‘the Education Department, through the director, that fire drill would be practised in all schools and that fireprevention lessons would become a compulsory item on the syllabus. The fulfilment c): this promise has yet to be announced, for the course of lessons, although appearing in the new syllabus, is still optional upon the master of the school. COMMON SENSE METHODS The result is that comparatively few children in New Zealand are equipped with a sound idea of how to prevent‘ fires by common-sense means and how‘ to fight a fire once it is started. But everything is not left to the State. The Fire Brigades’ Association, with several of the permanent. brigades, has undertaken in many districts to administer a set course of. lessons and drill, devoting a fire-week or a fire-day, as the circumstances demand, to particular schools. The lessons in prevention were designed by Mr. C. W. Malcolm, a. schoolmaster at Paeroa, and the drill was mapped out by Captain T. J. Watts, travelling advisory superintendent of the United Fire Brigades’ Association. They are based upon common sense and upon simple expedients, and are introduced to the children with that touch of novelty which makes them more convincing. New Zeal-3nd, of course, has not yet

achieved the distinction of central fire chutes for the children to slide upon in an emergency, as are attached to some American schools, but. every ordinary precaution is taken in the fire lessons. Lesson I. gives adequate advice upon the danger of discarding lighted cigarette butts, of children playing with matches, of carelessness with linen be—fore the fire and of the lack of vigilance on washing day. Lesson 11. covers fully the necessity for scrupulous care with gas. oils and electricity, and reminds the pupil tritely that a lighted match to a. gas pipe will always find the leak—usually with disastrous consequences. It is conveyed in lesson 111. that it is cheaper to clean the chimney flue than build a new home. So it is. It will become cheaper, also, not to enter a wardrobe with a. candle, nor to meddle near a. flame with celluloid. WHEN FIRE BREAKS OUT Then, in lesson IV., some useful things are said about how to act in the event of a fire. Know what to do, where to ring—and don’t interfere with the fireman’s job. Shut the doors and windows to prevent draught (but what happens to the new Chesterfield suite while the brigade is coming up the road?) and know how to use the extinguishers. Escape and general precautions comprise the final lesson, which asks the pupil to remember that if confinement in a. smoke-filled room is necessary, the freshest air is nearest the floor. Never jump till the hope of rescue has died, and then throw something out to fall upon. Have the front door ready for the brigade—nine times out of ten they will enter that way. These few things merely skim lightly the valuable advice of the firelessons, which actually encompass‘ everything that is necessary to know‘ when an outbreak occurs. ‘ In view of the reply of the Minister; of Education to Mr. W. J. Jordan in Parliament a few days ago, further‘ representation will be made to the Government to ensure that fire-fight-ing lessons become part of the child’s education—part, indeed. of that knowledge which it must possess in its equipment for full citizenship, and which might any day be subjected to a rigid test.