Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-16
s SUMMER SCHOOLS.
A New scheme for Giving the Boys Pleas
ant and Improving Vacation.

1t has been the problem with pa
rents Of young and lively schoolboys in
the city how to give them a vacation
and YET keep them out OF deyiitry,
said the principal of large uptown
private school yesterday. IAN expe-
riment has been tried for several years
which has become popular, and seems
to be success. The plan Is for .
teacher 10 take the boys with him into
tho country, go with them in their
rambles, and be boy himself. whilo
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 tits not good for
boys to forget in their two months va
cation all they have learned in nine
months at school. He proposes to con-
tinuc school instruction at least five
days in each week for ashort time each
day. He will. besides, go fishing, rid
ing. hunting. rowing. walking. or
bicycling with the members Of his sum-
mer school, and keep q sharp eye on
their doings.
.'This captures the parents. Few
New York business men have a sum-
mer residence in the country where
their children will receive watchiul
care. Their boys are q source of anxi-
ETY. TO Them all summer. Every father
Who stays alone in the city is in. con-
slant dread Of receiving dispatch that
his boy has shot himself accidentally,
is drowned, or half killed in some es-
capade. The thought that be can les-
cape his harassing dread greatly pleas-
es him, He does not haggle over the
sum asked by tho teacher. This is us
ually 800. II includes all expenses of
transportation, and boarding, lodging,
and tuition. -t4w t<a ss,s.t 81 ,.ss
sss: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 q 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 il 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
charge. They are not compelled to
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. he principal encoura-
gespthe boys to practice on musical in
struments, bat he draws the line at
accordeons. In the largest room OF
the house, however, the boys are ex-
pected to assemble every forenoon for
two hours study. In pleasant weather
the boys camp out Wall tents are put
ia two rows, with four boys In each
tent. They are provided with ordina-
ry cots. The teacher has tent in the
center of the camp, and in it the boys
gather for their morning recitatiOns.
Their intcllects are not overtaxed. 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-
scented to teach some fact in natural
history. II fish is caught he tells
about its species, Its peculiarities, the
ebestway torcatCh it. and in what part
OF the ceuntfyAit may be found i Flow
ers and trees have their lessons on
land. The teacher finds sermons in
stones, but he has to be careful not to
BE- d bore. s -r
"Miscellancous 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 a boys father or
mother does not take. u run into the
country to see how their young hopeful
is tlonrishing. This keeps the cooks
and chambcrmaids in the cottage busy
In ahe dog duyssapd briggs q 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 unrestraincd fun, vet in
fact They de. romp TO their hearts con-
tent, and when they don't know what
tQ do next the teacher suggests. sOmc-
thing which sets them off 4 gain. It's
good scheme; and I'm roing Co try it
x-eal&