Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-10-18

sacks had been inspected, the boys were
drilled in packing, regard being had for
both speed and order.
Next. the class was divided into sections
or committees of three for the perform
ance OF special duties. These committees
were. first. an advance guard, whose
duty consisted in leading the way, and
thus determining the rapldlty OF the galt :
secondly, a rear-guard, whose members
were obliged to scare through rooms ana
cars in order that nothing might be Tor
gotten on leaving hotels and trains, ana
furt her. to coax or push along chlldrefl
inclined to fall behind during the march !;
thirdly the purchasing committee, VINO
attended to the purchasing of the lunches
required by ne party during he day; and
lastly. he committee of inquiry, to ass
the way W hen necessity required. and TO
search for points of interest which the
party would not be likely to come upon
naturally. In order that the pupils may
become trained in the performance OF
these various duties, each section serves
in the same capacity only one day al a
time During the excursion. each section
i placed in charge OF a teacher or stu
dent W no IS required to observe that the
duties are properly performed by the
children. The hotel arrangements are
made by the principal of the school a
week or two in advance.
The session concluded Will a final reel
tation concerning the special points OF
interest to be observed. During this
recitation map Of the route was drawn
ON I he board. and copied by ! he pupils IN
their note books. Zach child vas pro-
yfGed with memorandum book contain
ing notes taken during the preparatory
lessons each alternate page being left
blank for entries to be made on the Way
w hen the children had been dlsmls, ed
the teachers and students who had de
clded to take part in the journey met Tor
their final conference. During the
Journey. however, conferences We're held
every evening after the children had re-
tired At these meetings he work of the
daV was criticised, and special traits oil
character that had been observed among
the children were discussed. W lille the
excursion was conducted under the
general supervision OF one of the regular
class teachers the direct instruction was.
a. rule. left in the hands of the
students, each student who had volun-
teered to take part in the instruction
being placed in charge of the excursion
fer whole day. Again, number Of
students We're appointed each TO make
report Of ! he proceedings OF a single day.
The account OF the excursion, with its
progress day by day through beautiful
country rich in historical assoc latIons, is
very entertaining. The boys climbed the
mountains, studying geography botany
and geology by the way; they VISITED
factories and workshops and learned
about familiar industries. Then they
saw all he places associated with Luther :
life and sang his hymn in the room IN
which it was written. DIR. Rice Was
! astonished at he powers OF observation
and reflection developed by the boys, and
by their facility in recitation he
children put up with many hard-hlp@,
eating the simplest and sCantiest of
me- h.4sf1 rlti
to sleep on bare floors without proper
covering.
The expense. he says. alt heugh fully As
high as on OF her occasions Of similar
nature, Mas almost incredibly small
AL things included, the cost, per
earjta did not exceed ~ cents day.
The highest amount paid in any one mn
fer dinner, lodging and breakfast Wa
3 cents i cents for dinner, 9 cents faf
lodging and ! cents for breakfast
Fifteen cents covered ne cost OF the
three lunches. The remainder was spent
On railway fares. and on entranCe-ite> Ia
cast lc. and observatOries. To school ~
cur-i0ui-t- railway tickets are sold at q
reduction of 90 per cen. from the regular
rates, and still greater reductions art
made on eutrAnce-fees to instructive
places Thus, in Germany, school eNcur-
-Ions are in every way encouraged he
funds REQUIRED for the journey are in
part provided by the university. and in
part given in the form of donations by
the students Of pedagogy, and other
friends of he school. The pupils are not
Obliged to contribute, but few OF hem
usually pay small sum.
Or. Rice advocates the Introduction Of
similar school excursions in this country,
and last year, al his suggestion, one was
undertaken by the public school thor
titles OF Anderson, Ind, and proved very
successful.