Inspiring Heroes: The Legacy of the 1937
Texas School Explosion
Ellie Goldberg, MEd, http://www.healthy-kids.info , (617) 965-9637
March 18, 2009 is the 72nd anniversary of the worst school disaster in U.S. history. The 1937 Texas School Disaster was a gas explosion that killed over 300 people, mostly children. Although a litany of problems were found in the construction of the new school, no one was held responsible because the Court of Inquiry concluded that "school officials were just average individuals, ignorant or indifferent to the need for precautionary measures, where they cannot, in their lack of knowledge, visualize a danger or a hazard." (Court of Inquiry, 1937.) The disaster led to the law requiring that a warning odor be added to natural gas, a result that saves millions of lives all over the world. However, other important recommendations to prioritize safety in school construction standards and operations have yet to be implemented in most 21st century schools. The story of the 1937 Texas School Explosion needs to be remembered because too many schools have dangerous old explosives in classrooms, labs, closets and storerooms. And, too many opportunities to prevent and correct other safety code violations in schools are routinely ignored.
What You Can Do
Observe March 18 as a Healthy Schools Heroes Day. Let's move safety from the margins of school activity to the core of school culture and curriculum. Together we can inspire leadership for safety in schools and overcome indifference to a wide range of public health and safety problems.
Break the Silence
Tell the story. Most people have never heard of the 1937 Texas School Explosion. The 1937 Explosion survivors all take some measure of healing and consolation in knowing that their stories teach the importance of taking precautions to prevent a similar tragedy from shattering other school communities. Read the memories of the survivors, witnesses and family members of the victims at "Recollections" (http://www.nlse.org/recollections.html) and "Sharing Information"
(http://www.nlse.org/sharing_01.html). See the old photos (www.nlse.org/photos.html) and newsreels (www.nlse.org/newsreels_01.html). The film trailer of the 2009 documentary based on survivors' stories, When Even Angels Wept, is online at http://www.kristinbeauchamp.com/44.html.
Tell your story
Encourage parents, students and staff to break the silence about school hazards and to dispel the myths that excuse inaction. Read stories of Healthy Schools Heroes online at http://www.healthy-kids.info. Identify and celebrate safety heroes in your community. Promote a sense of shared responsibility and accountability for student, employee and visitor health and safety in all school areas and activities. Put chemical safety on the agenda of your PTA, teacher's association, school council, school board, health department, and other community forums. Commit to building the school and community partnerships that put a priority on teaching safely and teaching safety, especially for chemical cleanouts and other precautions. Find resources for chemical management online at the US EPA Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/sc3/index.htm .
More suggestions for linking school activities to the lessons of the 1937 School Explosion are online at http://www.healthy-kids.info for science, language arts, history, theater, environmental education, parent involvement, emergency preparedness and professional development. Take advantage of year-round opportunities to promote school and community safety. Build on campaigns such as Poison Prevention Week March 2009, Inhalant Hazards Awareness Week March 2009, National Public Health Week 2009 and National Healthy Schools Day, April 27, 2009, Child Health Month, and other public health events.
Lessons Learned
Help raise awareness of the urgent need for responsible leadership to eliminate explosives and other hazards in today's schools so "that schools will be safe and children will come home to their families when their lessons are over." (9-year-old survivor Carolyn Jones, in an appeal to the Texas legislature, March 25, 1937.)
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Ellie Goldberg, MEd
http://www.healthy-kids.info
Lessons of the 1937 Texas School Explosion
http://journal.rcn.net/sentinellions