The Appleton Post-Crescent reports state fire officials are concerned about lax fire drill practices at schools. It seems Wisconsin recently amended its laws and officials estimate compliance with the required monthly fire drill rules at about 40 percent.

This is an area of particular interest to me. When I was in grade school I fought the establishment over the lack of fire drills - which we had roughly annually - and the emergency exit gates that were padlocked shut. Eventually things changed but not until our group of crusaders had been to the state fire marshal and the school board meeting.