The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-31
PeffisD yGOOdsC CO
THE ANDERSON SCHOOL TRIP.
DIR. Rice, the Educational Writer, Sums
Up Its Results.

Up Its Results.
The educational excursion taken last
spring by public school pupils of Ander-
son., Ind, mention Of which was made In
the Journal at the time, was so much Of
a departure from ordinary methods of in
struction that general attention was at
tracted TO Ii. DIR. j. NJ. Rice. the we'll
known writer on school topics, ac-
companied the party as an observer Of the
experiment, and In the Forum for Septem-
Der gives a detailed account of the journey
from the time OF leaving Anderson until
the end OF the tour at Washington, u. G.
In summing up the results DR.. Rice says:
Generally speaking. then, as a pioneer
attempt, the Anderson excursion was a
marked success. 1t was. indeed, an enjoy
affair. And, above all, it served to prove
beyond a doubt that the school excursion
IS feaSible In our country: The opinion has
been frequently expressed that journeys of
this nature could not be successfully car
ried out in America, because our children,
when out OF the school room, would not.
Ike the Germans. submit TO the authority
OF their teachers. In regard to the pupils
of the Anderson schools this theory proved
entirely u~nfounded; their obedience was
perfect. Indeed. too much praise cannot be
bestowed upon them for their manly and
womanly behavior. 1t was seldom found
young people. simply because they had
learned to control themselves. Indeed, self
control on the part Of the pupils is a char
country. 1t was the unanimous verdict OF
the railway employees and the hotel pro
prletorS and clerks that our party, in spite
Of its size, was one of the most orderly
they had ever encountered. During the en-
tire excursion the spirit manifested on all
sides was excellent; every one was delight
ell and happy. and all J Joked forward with
anticipation TO a futue trip OF a similar
n9.Lre.
And VET the affair WAS NOT wfthout
flaws. While, in regard to the spirit. little
was left TO be desired, the same is not true
of the pedagogical features. The lack of
strength on the pedagogical side. due large
ly TO the want of experience, was owing TO
the fact that, beyond the selection of the
the special preparation on the part of both
teachers and pupils was Inadequate. In
consequences of these omissions the affair
rather than by definiteness of purpose.
That travel in itself is a powerful educator
of any given tour will depend largely upon
the manner in which 1t IS conducted. A
and a mfn raIieri eSu Of E FhnSTsh under nGe m indieions
History and art; while a similar tour with
out such guidance may lead to nothing be-
yond a tumble of ideas. On our excursion
lack of dehniteness led to delays, and con-
s%equently TO loss of time, while lack of
and pupils resulted in indefinite work.
I'm regard to the details concerning the
preparation Tor an excursion mucn can De
learned from Germany. with its experience
OF a century in this line of work. 1 shall
therefore add here, by way of suggestion,
an outline of the method followed by the
School of Practice connected with the Uni
versity of Jena, whose journeys are con-
Quoted strictly on scientific principles;
AT Jena we find that each expedition
is preceded by a thorough preparation on
the part of both teachers and pupils, In
regard to the pupil, the preparation takes
place by means Of a series of special reci-
~tations. during which the route is carefully
studied, maps are drawn and the points to
be observed are discussed In outline. Thus
their minds are placed In an attitude OF
expectancy, and consequently in the condi-
ton most favorable to the acquisition of
"As to teachers. the work of the journey
is usually so divided that those who a
an active part shall teach MY during 1rn Sr a
who teaches takes cqmplete charge of all
tie proceedings. At a special teachers
the particular days are selected by mutual
agreement. The work of preparation on
the part of the teacher now begins. and it
consists in studying from maps, railway
guides. books of travel. and SO on, the de
tails concerning the points of interest-his-
t tori in miTlinr x,t geog iba distric ge ssSgirGedj
To the nt day ON Which he has Charge. he &C.
once made. is carried out to the letter.
The sightseeing is invariably undertaken
In the form Of a recitation: Lessons given
ia AlG lOdA III ~ 1 -.
cause they have been thoroughly prepared
In advance.
at affords me much pleasure, in this
connection, TO be able TO state that the
privilege Of studying pedagogy and allied
subjects at Jena-the worlds center for the
study of the Herbartian system-,s ceS-
tined soon to be extended 20 women. While
abroad this past summer i called the attSo-
ton of Professor Rein-the professor OF
p~edagogy-to the fact that to grant permits
sion to American women to attend his
lectures and to instruct in the University
School of Practice would be doing an eX-
ceIlent service to our schools. After a few
consultations and before my departure
from Jena he promised me, first, that with
our women to instruct in the School OF
Practice, and. second, that as soon as the
number of applicants should reach, say.
ten. he would undertake to deliver private
ly to women lectures similar to those given
before the students in the university.
philosophy, gave me a similar promise in
regard to his lectures on philosophy and
logic, and | received the further assurance
that the heads of other departments. would
follow in the footsteps of these professors
The admission of women to the university
itself does not lie within their control A..
FINALLY, experience acquired during the
Anderson excursion leads me to offer the
following additional suggestions:
classes be divided into sections, and that
each section be placed in charge or a
teacher taking an active part in the work
times have an eye on his pupils.
~"Second-I would suggest that, on q
journey a week in duration. some OF the
time be devoted TO rusticating. A day oil
two spent In the woods, travelling on foo
or in wagons to selected points of interest
would not only add to the enjoyment 81
the tour. but give an opportunity for ma
ture studies. BY this means. also. ths
fatigue of a continued series of extended
railway Journeys would be avoided.
Now that Anderson has made the begin
ming. IL IS to be hoped that excursions from
,ther localities will follow. And if tn,
Drepa ration on the part OF both teachers
and pupils be thorough. there is no reason
why excursions undertaken in our countrl
should not be fully as profitable as thos'
IN Germany"