BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Friends of the Coal Ladies Auxiliary wrapped its Coal in the Classroom program by taking Catholic school third and fourth-graders on a tour of the Exhibition Coal Mine.
They first spent six weeks in the classroom teaching the kids about the history of coal, from surface and underground mining to fossils and minerals.
The ladies say as West Virginians, it’s important to understand these things and teach our children.
“They’re gaining such great knowledge, not only of science, but of math and the process by which we provide steel, and we have electricity,” said FOCLA Chair Regina Fairchild. “They need to know how that comes about and forms, where it came from.”
According to Fairchild, most do not know the importance of coal.
She says being able to share all aspects of the mine with the children is the highlight of their year.
“It’s pretty much what we taught them in the classroom. But now they get to see it, and course, we show them the history in which the coal miners lived in a coal camp,” Fairchild said. “That’s a terrific experience for anyone, whether you’re a child or an adult.”
