IF RAIDERS COME

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 19

IF RAIDERS COME

SAFEGUARDING BRITAIN'S CHILDREN ■ Small camps, to which children ill “ danger areas ” could bo evacuated in time of 'air attack, are suggested in a circular on air raid precautions in schools,, issued by the British Board of Education.' It is also proposed that where schools are kept open all children should carry gas masks. The circular says that the problem or the protection of school children in time of air attack has been considered by the board and by the Home Office Air Raid • Precautions Department. Hi states: — “ While the importance of carrying on the work of the schools as far aa possible during a national crisis, both on educational and social grounds, and in. order to minimise the unsettling effect on the public mind, will not be disputed, the primary oosideratioi* must be for. the safety of the children* “ Each authority will, therefore; wish! to consider whether it will be reasonable to- expect parents to allow their children to continue to' attend First consideration would have to b« given to those places where the riskj was so great that it would not be justifiable to collect children in large numbers in schools, and it would accordingly be decided to close the school during the whole period for which raid* might be expected. '• The short period of warning—sevento 10 minutes being all that was anticipated—would hot' enable children to be sent home, and the primary importance of their safety would demand that they should be kept at home to share in the protective arrangement* designed for the public, ! “ In these areas which are especially exposed to danger, the ideal solution! would be to evacuate the children—not all of whom will be of school agb—ta safer districts, preferably in the country, where they could be dispersed ini private houses or public buildings, or possibly in small camps.” In places where it was decided td keep schools open—apart from those used for first-aid posts the decontamination centres—all children • would be provided with respirators to carry to and from school. NO RAID DRILL. " They will have opportunities fa become familiar with them under arrangements made for other members ofi the family, and it is undesirable thati any preparatory instruction of school children in .peace time should, be undertaken which might- have adverse psychological or other effects on then! or the public. “ For this reason, anything in tha nature of respirator drill or air raid drill should not be undertaken in school except after very careful consideration. Children should be told in advance to return home if a warning is given! while on the way to school; as the lasij place to be was in the street..