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Those of us who can still remmber our childhood, probably recall how field trips were a very popular school activity. the orighin of the term is one of the lesser definitions of field, namely work done outside of an office or factory, in this case the school. This is a fairly recent meaning, reflecting the fact that the field trip is a relatively recent educational school activity. Little a teacher could say would get the children excited like announcing a field trip. I can recall when I was teaching, one of the class activities the students enjpyed the most was the various field trips I planned. The children love the change in the too often unchanhing standard school day. Younger children in particular view it as an adventure with their classmates and teacher. The field trip for most children is often the most exciting day at school. The children like the opportunity to break away from the books and as the children saw it and go 'sightseeing'. Of course it was up to the teacher to make syure it a valuable learing experience. It was an opportunity to take advntage of the inherent curiosity of children and mix in learning and fun. It is likely that American teachers if not the first to plan field trips, were among the first. We believe this to be the case for several reasons. First, America along with Germany was a leader in public education. Second, American schools were not as strictly academic as European schools and extra-curicular programs became an important part of the curiculum. Third, the idea of a field trip fit in perfectly with John Dewey's ideas of pragmatism and democracy in public education. Dewey was a major figure in American education.
Fourth, we note American field trips at the turn-of-the 20th century. This began with the children walking short distances. Fourth, Henry Ford and the Model-T (1908) solved a transport problem. The basic Model-T was soon followed with trucks and busses. With school busses appearing after World War II (1920s). Americns had the greatest mobility of any country. And a major elemnt in planning a field trip was mobility. Children who had to walk were limited in what field trips were possible as we see here (figure 1). City children might be able to take city transport to some venues, bnu that was not always feasible.
Those of us who can still remmber our childhood, probably recall how field trips were a very popular school activity. The orighin of the term is one of the lesser definitions of field, namely work done outside of an office or factory, in this case the school. This is a fairly recent meaning, reflecting the fact that the field trip is a relatively recent educational school activity.
Little a teacher could say would get the children excited like announcing a field trip. I can recall when I was teaching, one of the class activities the students enjpyed the most was the various field trips I planned. The children love the change in the too often unchanhing standard school day. Younger children in particular view it as an adventure with their classmates and teacher. The field trip for most children is often the most exciting day at school. The children love the opportunity mix things up a nit and break away from the books and as the children saw it and go 'sightseeing'. High school students are more jaded, but even they enjoy a break from the classroom.
Of course it was up to the teacher to make sure it is a valuable learing experience. It was an opportunity to take advntage of the inherent curiosity of children and mix in learning and fun.
It is likely that American teachers if not the first to plan field trips, were among the first. We believe this to be the case for several reasons. First, America along with Germany was a leader in public education. Second, American schools were not as strictly academic as European schools and extra-curicular programs became an important part of the curiculum. Third, the idea of a field trip fit in perfectly with John Dewey's idea s of pragmatism and democracy in public education. Dewey was a major figure in American education.
Fourth, we note American field trips at the turn-of-the 20th century. This began with the children walking short distances. Fourth, Henry Ford and the Model-T (1908) solved a transport problem. The basic Model-T was soon followed with trucks and busses. With school busses appearing ftr World War II (1920s). Americns had the greatest mobility of any country. And a major elemnt in planning a field trip was mobility. Children who hd to walk were limited in what firld trips were possible as we see here (figure 1). City children might be able to take city transport to some venues, bnu that was not always feasible.
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