The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-01
SUMMER ECiIOOLS.
A New Scheme foe q wing the Dhys a Pie,
ant and Improving Vacation.

A New scheme foe q Wing the Days q Pleaa-
ant and Improving Vacation.
at has boon the problem with pa
rcnts of young and lively schoolboys in
the city how to give them 3 vacation
and yet keep them out of deviltry,"
said the prime pal of a large uptown
private school yesterday. 'tAn expe-
riment has been tried for several years
which has become popular, and seems
to be success. The plan is for a
teacher to take the boys with him into
the country, go with them in their
rambles, and be boy himself. while
he looks out for the safety of his pu-
pills. The teacher begins the enterprise
by visiting the boys parents in the
city. He tells them it is not good for
boys TO forget in their two months va
cation all thoy have learned in nine
months at school He proposes to con-
tinue school instruction at least five
days in each week for short time each
day. He will. besides. 60 fishing. rid
ing, hunting. rowing, walking, or
bicycling with the members of his sum-
mer school, and keep sharp eye on
their doings. -. ..... -.'... o..
"This captures the parents. Few
New York business men have q sum-
mer residence in the country where
their children will receive watchful
care Their boys are . source of anxi-
ETY. to them all summer. Every father
who stays alone in the city is in con-
stant dread of receiving dispatch that
his boy has shot himself accidentally,
is drowned, or half killed in. some es-
capade. The thought that he can es-
cape his harassing dread greatly pleas
es him. He does not hsggle over the
sum asked by the teacher. This is US
ually $1Oa 1t includes all expenses of
transportation, and boarding, lodging,
and tuition.
MANY of these summer vacation
schools are scattered this summer.
through the eastern and middle states.
The places usually selected for the
school are near body of water. This
affords boundless fun for the boys in
swimming. rowing. sailing, and fishing.
/ have in mind q summer school on
an island in one of the little inland
lakes in central New York. The teach
er owns the island and has built pref
ty cottage for the school. 1t is more
like dwelling than a school-house.
He has thirty boys from the city in his
sleep in the house except in stormy
weather When it is cold and rainy
the scholars amuse themselves indoors
with books or games, or some musical
instruments. The principal encoura.
ges the boys to practice on musical in
struments, but he draws the line at
accordeons. In the largest room of
tho house, however, the boys are ex-
pected 10 assemble every forenoon for
two hours study. In pleasant weather
the boys camp out Wall tents are put
in two rows, with four boys in each
tent They are provided with ordina-
ry cots. The teacher has tent in the
center of tho camp, and in it the boys
gather for their morning recitations.
Their intellects arc not oyertaXed. The
exercises consist of reviews of lessons
previously learned in the city schools.
and in the common English studies
reading, spelling, arithmetic, and ge-
ography. Besides this, the teacher in
his trips with the boys, either on land
or water, seizes every opportunity pre-
sented TO teach some fact in natural
history. If a fish is caught he tells
about its species, its peculiarities, the
best way to catch it, and in what part
OF the country it may be found. Flow
crs and trees have their lessons on
land. The teacher finds sermons in
stones, but he has to be careful not to
be bore.
< miscellaneous visiting by strange
boys is not permitted at summer
schools. Not one is permitted to min
gle with them but the boys parents.
1t is seldom that boys father or
mother does not tako a run into tho
country to sec how their young hopeful
is iourishing. This keeps the cooks
and chambermaids in the cottage busy
in the dog days, and brings nice sum
to the pocket of the principal.
'Boys like the scheme" added the
teacher. Tough boys are never al
lowed to enter such schools. The
scholars have all the innocent liberty
they could desire. and although it
would seem that the boys would not
have genuine unrestrained fun, yet in
fact they do romp to their hearts con-
tent, and when they don't know what
to do next the teacher suggests some
thing which sets them off again. It's
good scheme, and I'm going to try it
myself next year. There's money in it. "