The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-15

Along With all the material develop
1nent that has gone on in the city Of
{ fairmont and vicinity. It should be
observed that the people have always
taken serious Interest in matters OF
education To such an extent has
thlgSbeen true that It is matter OF
general remark In other section OF the
State that there is no city In the State
in which there Is such pronounced
educational spirit among all the poo
RE Us Is TO be found In our city. This
nay he accounted for in part by the
TACT that forjmpr than third OF CEN
t,iry the State has naintaired one OF
us best Normal schools in fairmonl,
and this institution mas radlated a
strong educational Sentiment through
out this sectio.t, but this condition is
probably dyeE in larger measure TO
the character OF our citizenship, and
the intCnse desire OF the people of the
community to give their children the
very best advantages in the way of
educational training.
q Nasif llC bltdt tuuCdllOhul uGNClOphlCut
which has gone on In the community
In tho last ten years is due TO the
awakened spirit OF the people, who be.
lievo. that tho oldtlmc school Is not
good enough for hustling city with
its traction system. its many factories.
It's great banking Institutions. Its fine
business institutions, Its paved streets,
its automobiles, and all Its other evil
dences ofea. new age, and wonderfully
changed conditions. And there are
many people who believe that with ali
these evidences OF modern progress
and Increased individual wealth. that
the community should do far more in
the future than It has done in the
past for the educational training Of
the men and women OF the future.
& we take pleasure In dedicating one
issue OF this paper to the interests of
the public schools OF the community.
When It comes to consideration OF the
:, cause Of public education in our city,
we are dealing with Question about
which there can be no difference OF
opinion among all good citizens. Well
equipped, we'll taught. well conducted
schools are one OF the best assets that
any community can have, and the
public school system Of our city from
the first grade TO the High school
should have the support and sympathy
OF every one that desires the advance
ment and best development OF the
olty.
In the following columns will be
found comments on many interesting
things that are being in our public
schools which are in line with the pro.
gressive educational movements OF
the eacntry.
Fire Drills.
The public schools OF Falrmont, un-
der tho direction and frequent super
vision OF the head OF the city fire de-
partment gives systematic attention
TO fire drills. Recently all OF the
schools OF the district were visited by
the fire chief. and the Board OF Edu.
cation for the purpose of inspecting
the training OF the children in getting
out OF the school buildings In respons
TO the giving OF he fire alarm. At the
conclusion OF the inspection all ex-
pressed themselves as being we'll
pleased. The query may arise in the
minds OF a great many people as TO
the value OF the fire drills In our
schools. Those who are informed
concerning the fatalities In school
buildings, theaters and other public
places, In the presence of an outbreak
CT fire or in false fire alarm. know
that the great danger grows out OF
the excitement, fear and panic. Most
Of the loss OF life that has occurred
iil-such places could have been avoid.
cd II everybody had kept cool. The
purpose OF the fire drills in school is
to make the children familiar with The
icea Of fire SO that In the event OF 4
4 real fire. they will not be so apt 20
give way TO q feeling OF panic. Many
Instances are reported OF the ccolncss
and the, facility with which school
children have marched out of build.
ings that were known TO be on DE.
Ii is the desire OF the Fairmont fire
chief as well as OF those in charge of
our public schools to give the chi
dren OF the city such training by
means ofthe FIRE drill that they VIII
always be able TO conduct themselves
with GOODNESS in the presence OF the
firm demon.
Domestic Science Department.
y The Domestic Science Department
z !, In the Falrmont High School was %
W tablished in the fall Of 1910, through
the effort OF the Woman's Club OF this
city. Early In the spring of that year
IA committee from the Domestic Sci
ence Department from the club waited