The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-09-15
TO SAVE SCHOOL
FROM FIRE PERIL
Citizens OF Maryland Towns Urged
70 Join In Movement To Protect
Property.

An important step in the inter
est of fire prevention throughout
the State has been taken by the
State Department Of Education in
providing. through the new course
of study for rural schools, that chill
dren in the elementary grades shall
receive definite instruction in fire
hazards and the various means OF
reducing the losses from fire to life
and property. This is taken care OF
mainly in the course III ciyics. 1t
is stated that one of the aims of the
elementary school curriculum is cit
izenship. The child citizen is to be
taught his relation to the various
Cnvironmental agencies with which
he comes in contact, what is proYld-
ed by his local, State, and National
Governments for his protection and
welfare, and what service he can in
turn render in the efficient ordering
of community life.
It is intended that there shall be
developed in every school child a
consciousness Of his responsibility
in the prevention Of fire through the
correct use of matches, kerosene and
gasoline; the care OF fires in stoves
and fire places; the proper banking
of fires at night, and by Keeping the
home and surroundings free from
rubbish and all innammable ma
terial.
The pupils VIII be taught what
to do when an outbreak of fire oc-
curs-how to give the alarm, how
to get out of burning building, how
l. r,+ do n
what they can 10 20 eXtinguish the
fire. They are TO learn also what
to do in case OF a PERSONAL injury,
treat burn, etc. How to apply
first aid i'll all emergencies is fully
treated in the course in hygiene.
The significant feature of this ad-
vance step Of Maryland's public
school system is that the children
will receive this instruction SYSTEM
aticalIy, year after year. 1t will be
as much part of the required
course OF study as is reading, spell
ing, arithmetic, etc. 1t cannot but
have a tremendous influence on the
knowledge. attitude and practice Of
the whole people.
No less important a contribution
to the States efforts to lessen its
losses from fire is the systematic
campaign which has been conducted
fer several years by State and coun-
~ authorities to clean up and i'm
prove public school properties. To
that end there has been stressed, in
all schools, high and elementary,
white and cOlored, the value of the
annual observance, preferably in the
early fall, of "Clean-Up and School
Improvement Day On this day
the regular work of the school is
suspended for tie afternoon at least
and the patrons and trustees are in
vited to meet at the school and bring
their grass cutters, rakes, white
wash brushes and buckets, nails and
hatchets, and whatever other tools
may be necessary to put their school
house and ground III good cOndi-
ton 1t is felt that the school
should embody, N concrete form,
the lessons in sanitation and health,
in comfort, beauty and safety that
it would impress upon the commun-
ity, for it can never hope to promote
any virtue which it does not itself
eXemplify. Teachers, children, pa
irons and friends have in scores of
bDsGT75d School Improvement De-,
in such a way as TO stimulate the
pride of the entire people in-1nakin 6