Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-16
FIRE DRILL IN
SCHOOL A FARCE;
TEACHERS SCORED.
East Orange Board Will See
That Proper Precautions
Are Taken.

The members of. the East Orange
Board of Education severely ques-
toned Superintendent of Schools YER
non L.. Davey and Principal Charles
w. Evans, of the High School. last
night, in connection with a fre-drill
fiasco on Arbor Day. It was brought
out that the drill, which was held at
the request of Commissioners Wilson
and Crater and William H.. Aborn,
was practically q farce. As a result
the board, after hearing the details.
went into executive session, and later
it vas given out that the proper drills
would be held in the future.
superintendent Davey and Principal
Evans We're scored for their lack of
insistence in the proper performance
of drills. The board was in session
until after midnight in it's effort to
get at the bottom of the affairs~It was
said that one class during the drill
left the classroom.
did you ever see a drill in the high
school following your forwarding of the
rules of the board relative to drills?'
President Garvin asked superintendent
Davey.
Il nave seen them in the schools"
answered Mr.. Davey.
But did you see one in the high
SCHOOL," insisted Mr.. Garvin.
well, no." reluctantly admitted Su-
p~erintendent Davey.
Don't you think you should have
some?'' asked Mr.. Garvin.
Eyes, it seems SO now" said Mr..
Davey.
Mr.. Evans when called upon to make
a statement said that the criticism of
the board was deserved and just in
every respect and that with regard to
the teacher who had neglected to re-
lease her class Mr.. Evans declared
there was no excuse and that he had
severely reprimanded her for her ac-
ton.
II have never known of a time when
it took more than two Inc a half min
utes to empty the school," Mr.. Evans
said. IT have not always waited until
the school was emptied. I am satisfied
that there was negligence, n I repri.
manded one teacher for the liberty
which she too in not sending out her
class. l told her We should be severely
and justly ~reprimanded for her act.
"In one of the rooms on the third
floor there were, a few girls preparing
for the interclub debate. They had
asked my permission to remain there.
They did not come downstairs When
the alarm was sounded. When / ques-
toned them concerning it l was told
that the door leading to the roof of
section B was open and that they
could easily have gotten out, which 1
readily believe. l have no defense to
offer of the way the drills were car
ried out"
Earlier in the meeting Commission
ers Wilson and Crater gave a detailed
account of the drill, as did Mr.. Abcrn.
Each speaker agreed that a lac kof
discipline was conspicuous both on tho
part of the teachers as we'll as the
pupils. "One boy ducked behind his
companions and returned to the ROOM,
said Commissioner Crater. "All were
talking. and they came In groups. 1t
didn't impress me as being a good
drill. In the manual training room J.
found that some of the pupils did not
even leave their benches, and there
was absolutely no concerted effort on
the part of the teachers to make the
drill effective"
Mr.. Aborn said it was a misnomer
to call 1t a fire-drill. as it tool on all
the appearances of a frolic. 81 count
ed eightY-seven girls congested on one
of the stairways, and I did not see one
male teacher doing one blessed thing
TO make the drill a success" Both
Commissioner Crater and Commission
er Wilson dwelt upon the reluctance of
Principal Evans in calling the drill.
Mr.. Evans contending hat Arbor Dag
exercises should not be interfered with
and wis an he finally decided to call the
drill 1t was with the understanding
that the board would protect him from
any trouble that might arise due to
an infringement of the State law re-
garding Arbor Day.