The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-02-15

had seen it, and were glad of an oppor-
tunity to speak of it.
elbow many children have seen where
it rises?" A few had seen the place.
''How many more would like to see its
originr' All hands came up again.
"We shall try to lind it this after
noon.'
The children looked happy, for they
were to 60 on an excursion. Upon sig
nal they fell in line, and then left the
building. AS they walked through the
streets two by two, they conversed
quietly. After few minutes they arriv-
ed at the bank of the river which they
were to study. The teacher then put a
few questions TO them.
(which way shall we gO?' asked he.
'sTo the right said one of the pupils.
s'How do you know:"
0Because l have often seen the
source"
Another said that wafer always flows
downward, so that the origin of the
river would be found by following the
stream in the direction opposite to that
in which it flows.
''What else have you noticed thus
far?' asked the teacher. One child had
noticed the direction of the wind :;
another, something in regard to new
buildings, etc.
When the city limits had been passed,
the teacher told the children that they
might make little more noise. A song
was suggested. and the little ones sang
and were merry. After few minutes
they spoke again, and said that they
were rising more rapidly than before,
that. the trees were beginning to bud,
that the grass was beginning to grow.
They likewise pointed out a few mount
ainstreams. During this walk the
children were never allowed to lose
sight Of the river, because that formed
the main object of the lesson. One of
tuC SdIu itNCl was
getting smaller. When asked for the
reason of this, he remarked that they
were above the places where it is fed by
little streams. When they arrived at a
railroadbridge, they spoke of the cars,
the destination of the trains, and some
thing regarding the telegraph.
l. In, Il
the children reached the top of the
mountain. A view of the surrounding
country was taken, special points no.
ticed and spoken of. Then the source of
the river was looked for in all directions.
At last child called out joyfully that he
had found it. Sure enough he had
found, beneath some loose stones,
the spring from which the river arises.
All the children looked at it. played
with the stones, and then ran around in
the fields. After while they gathered
close to the teacher. sang few more
songs, aud then fell in line for the
hOmeward march. Three hours after
leaving the children returned to the
schoOlhOuse.
The next morning the children dis
cussed in the classroom the walk of
the previous day. During this lesson
their JOY and enthusiasm knew no
bounds. In answer to every question,
every hand was raised. | asked the
teacher why he did not keep the child
rem seated quitely. He answered, ''why
should l destroy their mental activity
by compelling them to direct most of
their attention towards controlling the
of their muscles?'
As the lesson proceeded, | listened
with establishment to the enormous
amount Of things which the children re-
lated about their walk, and to the words |
which indicated the vividness Of the inn
pressiOns which these things had left
upon their minds. The walk was in
tended primarily for geography lesson
but, besides learning something of
many other channels of
thought had been opened to them. The
children had seen trees bud: now they
were anxious to see them bloom. They
saw the farmer use the river for the
irrigation of the soil: they were now
DESTROYS of observing the effec; of this
irrigation upon the crops.
Upon such walks. and the knowledge
gained by means of them, the whole
German system of elementary education
is founded. This is true of large as well
as of small cities. All the work centers
upon the ideas gaine,! in these walks.
which servc not only rs 4 means of in
PRODUCTION to the study oi geography,
but likewise 10 :hat of history; historical
points being visited fer this purpose.
Further, 10y means Of the various things
noticed and spoken of Upon these ex-
cursions. the children gather informa-