NOTES AND QUERIES. 205 



I have mentioned that other schools sometimes work out of 

 doors, but seldom. Why ? Often it is the teacher's fault. 

 He or she is unable to face the public passers-by, and have his 

 or her manner and doings criticised by them. It is more pleasant 

 to the teacher to stay within. This is entirely overcome in an 

 outdoor school with walls of living trees. I have noticed 

 classes from our town schools having lessons in the open 

 air, but apparently they only stay for a very short period. 

 The work in this country school is so planned during the 

 summer that the children are in the summer school for a 

 considerable time at a stretch — perhaps a whole forenoon, 

 perhaps a whole afternoon. 



Disadvantages, of course, there are. The chief disadvantage 

 is not inattention, although many would think of that first. 

 It is that work in this summer school is limited. The only 

 pieces of furniture in the "room" are the teacher's chair and 

 a very few old forms. Only oral work and slate work can be 

 carried out, and only oral work to a certain extent, for a black- 

 board is a great aid in such work, and a blackboard is wanting ; 

 a slate is used, but not successfully. In the higher classes this 

 limitation is felt more than in the infant department, since 

 practically all work is done on paper. 



Inattention and seeking for diversion are always confined 

 to the first day or two of each season spent in the summer 

 school. The novelty wears off, and wanderings can always 

 be treated as they deserve. To show how the children enjoy 

 the life, return to school is always the worst punishment. And 

 again, what diversion can be got? Only what nature supplies, 

 since one cannot see beyond the four walls of trees. The 

 public road is hidden, and only the roof of the school is seen. 



On wet days work in the outdoor school is impossible, and 

 even on dewy mornings the children cannot be taken out early. 

 Under circumstances such as those of this Perthshire school 

 there need not be an unhappy child during all the summer 

 months. And yet it is not play. One does not feel that time 

 is being wasted, or that the children are learning nothing. 

 Work goes on the same, but under ideal conditions, and it is 

 only a pity that this school does not use its summer school 

 more, and that all schools, where it is possible, were not 

 supplied with an outdoor school of a similar type. 



M. Murray. 



