264 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Nov., 1Q04. 



A School on tKe Ocean. 



.\.MERICA.\ educational enterprise is responsible for the 

 scheme of a " Nautical Preparatory School " — in 

 other words, a school on board a ship that is con- 

 stantly afloat in the various maritime regions of the 

 world. A vessel of this kind, to effect its purpose, must, 

 of course, carry a professorial staff, whose members are 

 qualified to conduct the education of pupils, as well as 

 look after their moral and material welfare. But the 

 studies of sea-going scholars of this type, while akin 

 to those which form the curriculum pursued within 

 the four walls of a high-grade establishment on shore, 

 are supplemented by the novel opportunities and ever- 

 changing environment of a cruising vessel. 



The Young America, the craft on which this bold 

 experiment in educational methods is to be carried out, 

 is a newly-built full-rigged sailing ship, the keel of 

 which was laid at Newport, Rhode Island, in the 

 summer of 1902. She has a displacement of about 

 3,000 tons, and length of 262 feet, and is claimed to be 

 of the most modern type of marine architecture. Elec- 

 trically lighted throughout, the vessel is provided with 

 all the requisites of up-to-date sanitary and hvgienic 

 science, and also those which meet the peculiar needs 

 of a wayfaring ocean school. Two steam launches are 

 borne, and ten rowing and sailing boats of navy 

 pattern. 



The T Cling America sailed from Newport on her first 

 voyage in September last, and it is of interest to note 

 that the maiden cruise of the ship is to this country, 

 Edinburgh having been selected as the first city or 

 port of call, and London as the second. 



Our visitor carries upwards of 250 American lads, de- 

 nominated " cadet pupils," and, as at present 

 arranged, a complete student course for these occupies 

 four years, during each of which an itinerary of 

 cruises is performed to various parts of the world. It 

 is not, however, obligatory to enrol, for the whole 

 period. In the first year, 16, coo miles will be 

 traversed. From Edinburgh and London the ship 

 proceeds to Christiania, Copenhagen, Gibraltar, the 

 Mediterranean, the ports of the West Indies, and 

 thence home to the United States, when a vacation 

 of four months ensues. During the second vear, 

 Lisbon, Venice, Constantinople, and Santiago com- 

 prise a few of the ports of call of the cruise. The 

 third year the ship visits St. Helena, Cape Town, 

 Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Yokohama, and San 

 Francisco. In the fourth and last year, Hawaii, 

 Sydney, Hobart Town, \'alparaiso, Rio de Janeiro, 

 -St. Thomas, and Charleston are among the ports of 

 call. \'acations follow each ended cruise. 



At first sight it would seem that here a training- 

 ship is the central idea of the plan. But the school 

 on the Toting America, it is requisite to state, is not 

 primarily designed to train boys for sea service, 

 though, doubtless, in the nature of things its associa- 

 tions and influence will in many cases assist what may 

 be the embryo stages of naval careers of the future. 

 Strictly speaking, it is a school on a ship, and not, in 

 the more limited sense, a school-ship. The cadets take 

 no part in the working of the vessel, except for pur- 

 poses that accompany the routine of discipline, drill, 

 gymnastic exercise, and the ability to hand, reef, and 

 steer. From the last-named operations there is no 

 escape. 



Notwithstanding that the actual work of the ship is 



carried on independently of the cadets, the organisa- 

 tion is planned on naval lines. The Young America is 

 commanded by an experienced officer detailed under 

 the provisions of the United States Navigation Laws, 

 and the disciplinary standpoint is similar to that of the 

 world-renowned United States Naval Academy. The 

 cadets are formed into companies, and the companies 

 into sections, the respective ranks in the latter being : 

 cadet officers, cadet lieutenants, midshipmen, and pro- 

 bationers. Boys in the highest grade act as officers of 

 the watch, performing duties identical with those of 

 the ship's officers of like rank, only, however (so it is 

 said), for purposes of physical development, amuse- 

 ment, or as a reward of merit, the duties themselves 

 being carried on outside school hours. 



A service as well as a dress uniform is worn, while 

 other articles of clothing conform to the standard 

 patterns. Such, in brief, is the naval aspect of the 

 ship's management ; the rest is an affair of the teach- 

 ing faculty. 



A body of 1^ professors conduct what are called 

 collegiate and commercial courses. The former com- 

 prises an educational training for cadets who sub- 

 sequently intend entering American colleges, the L'.S. 

 Naval or the L'.S. Military Academy, or to secure a 

 liberal education independently of attendance at any 

 higher institution. The plan of the latter course is 

 laid on broad lines, the object of which is to impart a 

 sound general education, coupled with a practical 

 knowledge of the world's commerce, derived as much 

 as possible from personal observation in widely differ- 

 ing countries. In both sections the teaching of 

 modern languages is a feature ; those that may be 

 taken up are : French, German, Spanish, and Italian. 

 Certain of the cadets are instructed in theoretical 

 navigation, and steam and electrical engineering. 

 Considerable attention is to be given to various 

 branches of science — indeed, in some respects, the 

 Young America modestly subserves the functions of a 

 scientific and exploring expedition. Under the fostering 

 eye of a competent Director of Science, Prof. Porter E. 

 Sargent, deep-sea dredging will, with suitable equip- 

 ment, be pursued, and the treasures and wonders of 

 the tow-net set forth and explained. Then it is hoped 

 that the visits on shore during the ship's "globe- 

 trotting " will afford ample facilities for judicious 

 scientific collecting. 



It is not to be expected that the gates of the world 

 will fly open to these cadet pupils ; and we may hope 

 that they will not broaden into sea prigs. Still, it 

 cannot be doubted that the world-wide travel that is 

 forecasted, in alliance with scholastic training, will be 

 of high advantage if properly assimilated and adjusted 

 to the needs of after-life requirements. It is a grand 

 tour of the seas, and round-the-world itinerary of 

 cities and sights of peculiar significance. .A broad 

 hint has been given that America's foreign trade 

 should ultimately receive stimulus, and new outlets 

 crop up for the development of her industrial and 

 scientific manufactures by the educational method in 

 question. If that be so, surely no one will grumble at 

 the means adopted to supply the fair promise. 



The management of the Young America is vested in 

 a company, of which Lieut. -Commander C. H. Harlow, 

 an officer in the L'nited States Navy, is president, and 

 associated with him are several prominent naval and 

 industrial authorities. 



It should be added that pupils are enrolled on the 

 roster of the school between the ages of 14 and 19 

 years inclusive. Bon voyage. 



