The Brookhaven leader., 1885-11-05
Ezw IDEA N SUMMER SCHOOLS
A scheme for Giving ne Boys Pfssssns
and Improving vac.fien.
New i.rs sun

and Imprcsing Vacation ffs
Nov Y.rs SUM
"It has been the problem with parents
of young and lively sshoolboys in the
city how to give them a vacation and
yet keep them opt Of deyiltry, said the
| principal Of large uptown private
school recently. An experiment has
been tried for several years which has
become popular, and seems TO be sue
cess The plan is for d teacher to take
the boys with him into. the country, go
with them In their rambles, and be a
boy himself. while se looks out for the
safety OF his pupils. The teacher begins
the o.ercise by visiting the Logs pa
rents in tho city. He tells them it is
not good for boys to forget in their two
months vacation all they have learned
in nine months at school. f.e proposes
10 continue school instruction at least
five days in each week for a short time
each day. lie will, besides, go fishing,
riding, hunting, rowing, walking, or bi-
cycling with the members Of his sum
mer school, and keep sharp eye on
their doings.
This captures the parents. Few
New York business men have sum-
their children win receive watehful
care. Their boys are source of a2xi-
ETY. to them all summeI Every father
who stays alone In the city is m con-
slant dread Of receiving q dispatch that
his 10y has shot himself accidentally, is
drowned, or half killed in some esca-
pade. The thought that he can escape
this harrassing dread greatly pleases
him. He does not haggle over the sum
asked by the teacher. This Is usually
| 800. 1t includes all expenses OF trans
portation, and boarding, lodging, and
| tuition.
Many of these summer vacation
| schools are scattered this summer
thro Ugh the eastern and middle states.
The places usually selected for the
school are near hody of water. This
a.ords boundless fun for the boys in
swimming, rowing, sailing, and fishing.
! ] have in mind SUMMER school on an
island in one of the little inland lakes
in central sew York The teacher owns
the island AMI has built pretty little
cottage for the school. 1t Is more like
dwelling than q school-house IIo has
! thirty boys from the city in his charge.
! Thy are not compelled to sleep in the
| house except in stormy weather. When
it Is cold. and rainy the scholars amuse
1 themselves indoors with books or
games, or some musical instruments
/ The principal encourages the boys to
practice on musi al instruments, but no
draws the lin, at accordeons. In the
largest room of the house, how
ey,r, the boys are expected
to assemble every forenoon for two
hours study. In pleasant weather the
boys camp out. Wall tents are put in
two rows, with four boys ia each tent
They are provided with ordinary cots.
The teacher has tent in the center of
the camp, and in it tho boys gather for
their morning recitations. Their intel
| lects are not overtaxel The exercises
consist of reviews of lessons previously
learned in the city schools, spelling.
arithmetic, and geography. Besides
this, the teacher in his trips with the
| Lows, either on land or water, sci es
every opportunity presented to teach
some fact in natural history. If q fish
4 is caught he tells about its species. its
| peculiarities, the best way to catch 1t,
and In what part of the country it
may be found. Flowers and trees have
their lessons on tho land. The teacher
| finds sermons In stones, but he has TO
| be careful not to be a lore.
miscellaneous visiting by strange
boys is not permitted at summer schools.
No ons. is permitted to mingle with
| them but the boys parents. 1t is sell
dom that boy father or mother docs
not take arun into the country to see
how their young hopeful is hourishing.
| This keeps the cooks and chambermaids
in the cottage busy in thedog days, and
brings nice sum to the pocket OF the
| principal.
"Boys like the scheme," added the
teacher. Tough boys are never al
1 lowed TO enter such schools. The schol-
ars have all the innocent liberty they
could desire, and although IL would
seem that the boys would not have gen
uine unrestrained fun, yet IN fact they
| do romp to- their hearts content, and
| when they don know what to do next
the teacher suggests something which
sets them OF again. It's good scheme,
and I'm going to try it myself next
| year. There's money in 1t"