The Breeze,
Western High School Newspaper
December 19, 1941
EMERGENCY UNIFIES WESTERN
STUDENTS BID FOR POSITIONS IN TOTAL DEFENSE EFFORT
AIR RAID DRILL VACATES SCHOOL IN TEN MINUTES
SCHOOL TO BE AIR SHELTER
Air Raid Drill Vacates School in Ten Minutes
On Wednesday, December 10, Western held an air raid drill under the temporary instructions released by the Board of Education. Following an explanatory assembly, the entire school was evacuated in less than ten minutes by a surprisingly orderly process. The student body was divided into three shifts, those of the first floor and basement of the old and new buildings respectively, and finally the third and second floors. The bells were run at approximately three minute intervals to enable each group to leave the building.
Students on the lower floors, first to be evacuated, were directed to their lockers by the EW. Club members helped to prevent traffic inconveniences. Once outside the building students walked one block towards their homes. Cadet officers were stationed at the four intersections to control traffic while the drill was in progress.
Students Bid for Positions in Total Defense Effort
Faculty Duties Assigned; Boys Join Service
As the armed forces of the United States move into action against the enemy in the early weeks of the War, Western High School asserts herself ready and eager to cooperate in whatever ways possible with National Defense.
At present preparations are underway to meet any air raid emergency; members of the faculty have been assigned duties at specific posts; and many students have left school to volunteer their services to the marines, the navy, and the air corps.
Faculty Duties Assigned
The “emergency” officers are under the direction of Dr. Newton who has been delegated as Warden. They are as follows: Maintenance Officers, Chief Engineer, Fire Warden, Police Warden, First Aid Warden, and Morale Officers
Students Volunteer
The Students of Western who almost immediately volunteered are Kenneth Hawkins, who will enroll in the Canadian Royal Air Force; Hugh Torbert, Ed Valentine, and Alumnus Buck Herrleien of the class of 41 have joined the Navy. Louis Mays has enlisted in the Marines. By a special decision of the Board of Education diplomas will be automatically awarded those who planned to graduate in Feb 42 but who went into the country’s armed forces w/o completing the semester.
School to be Air Shelter
Plans are underway now to organize the various agencies of school, such as the cadets and athletic clubs into competent service units in case of school emergencies. The problem of equipping Western as a satisfactory air raid shelter has also arisen due to the change of directions. These preparations, said Dr. Newton, will include not only fitting the school with the necessary facilities but also providing for the entertainment of the students in case of an air raid.
National Air Raid Program Issued by O.C.D.
Mayor F. H. La Guardia, head of the Office of Civilian Defense, issued last Monday instructions for schools throughout the nation to have students remain inside the school buildings in the event of an air raid.
These instructions, contradicting an earlier tentative program of the Board of Education providing for the sending of students directly home in case of an enemy air attack, will be followed here, Col. Lemuel L. Bolles, executive officer of the District defense office, asserted. The directions sent out by Supt. of Schools, Frank E. Ballou were based on a prelim. Report of OCD.
The new “emergency instructions” are as follows:
1. What to do when the air-raid warning sounds
(Howling siren, short blasts or other local general warning)
Sound the school fire alarm in a special way (short rings, etc.) Have each class leave its room in order as in fire drill. Conduct classes to air raid refuge.
Do not permit any pupils to leave the building
Do not allow any pupils to return to classrooms until the all clear signal is given.
Do not send the pupils home.
These protective measures will require organization, planning, training and drill.
They should be started at once.
2. Air Raid Drill.
Use your fire drill organizations to get pupils to the air raid refuge. Have them file from the classroom the same way, in the same order, under the same leaders. But take them to the air raid refuge.
3. The Air-Raid Refuge.
The chances of a direct hit on any individual building are very small. You must guard against the blast of nearby high explosive bombs, and incendiaries and falling fragments of anti-aircraft shells.
You must get away from windows, and from open doors. The large inside halls of most schools are suitable for an air raid refuge. Do not use the halls on the top floor of the building. The cellar is a suitable air raid refuge provided there are plenty of exits and provided any windows to the outside can be protected by a layer of sandbags.
Select the most protected places in the building. Be sure they provide enough capacity to hold every one without crowding. Be sure there is more than one exit.
It is important too that the air raid refuge should have easy access to drinking watger and toilet facilities.
4. What to do about incendiaries.
Be sure the fire extinguishers are in proper working order. Be sure you have enough people teacher and students who know how to use them. Appoint these people as fire guards. Have them assigned posts when the air raid drill sounds. Appoint a chief fire guard.
If incendiaries hit the building, the fire guards should try to handle them. And put them out with water spray. If the fire gets beyond control, the chief fire guard should sound the regular fire alarm. All pupils should then be conducted form the building as in regular fire drill. Class leaders should conduct them in an orderly fashion to shelter in nearby homes. Leaders should keep the pupils in control
5. What to organize.
Do these things right away. They are essential now.
A. select the air raid refuge. More than one if necessary
b. Determine how the school alarm would be sounded for an air raid
c. Assign a refuge space or refuge room; assign class leaders to conduct the drill
d. Publish full instructions
e. Explain them and have assemblies on them
f. Appoint school wardens and fire wardens
g. Appoint fire defense and fire guards and get them special training in dealing with fire incendiaries
h. Study alternative air raid refuges for teachers and pupilsin case of fire. Look in neighborhood
i. Start training now. Don’t wait for final plan. Drill pupils now. Hold drill every few days until they are thoroughly accustomed to it.
Keep up moral of students so that if raid occurs you have experience in keeping them occupied
Organize first aid training
6. Are we in Danger?
The answer to that is we don’t intend to be caught napping again anywhere or any time. We are not going to say again, “It can’t happen here.”
Don’t rush around, don’t worry, but act! These are simple precautions. Read them again. Think how you will apply them to your school. Then take necessary action–today
TO PARENTS:
If an air raid should come while your children are at school, see to your own safety. Stay home, go to your refuge room, stay away from windows. Do not try to reach the school. You could accomplish no good. You could do a good deal of harm by such action. In an air raid, rule No. 1 is to stay off the street, get under cover. On the street there is the risk of falling shell fragments, racing cars, and fire apparatus. Stay indoors.
Do not try to t4elephonel The wires must be kept clear for the wardens, the police and the fire department. You might prevent an urgent message getting through. This is hard advice. It’s not easy to take. But it is for your best interest and for the welfare of your children.
Christmas dance cancelled–The Candlelight Ball scheduled for December 23rd is cancelled per the Board of Education during this time of emergency.
Students should remain at home to help meet blackout periods.
