Excursion - Excursion

It refers to teachers taking students outside of school to gain a variety of practical experiences and to allow them to see and learn things in a variety of places; it usually refers to one-day trips held at kindergarten, primary school and junior high school levels.

Under the modern school system since the Meiji period, excursions have become established and widespread as three interrelated events in response to changes in the times and society: (1) a recreational character that is derived from folk events such as traditional first shrine visits, cherry blossom viewing, and mountain outings; a group training character that involves marching in formation, an outside form of marching; (2) the observation and appreciation of nature; and (3) an off-campus learning character that involves visiting historical and cultural heritage sites and facilities. This basic character remains the same today, but with the development of transportation, there are many cases of going far away by bus or train. Also, the purpose and form of excursions are becoming more diverse, with emphasis on one of the three characteristics depending on the time, and excursions being held on a grade-level basis.

[Jiro Inoue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

教師が児童・生徒を校外に引率して、さまざまな実地の経験や見聞をさせることをいい、通常は幼稚園から小・中学校段階にかけて行われる日帰りのものをさす。

　明治以降の近代学校制度のもとでの遠足は、(1)伝統的な初詣(はつもう)で、花見、遊山といった民間行事の系譜を引く娯楽的な性格と、外来の隊列運動、すなわち隊伍(たいご)を整えて行進することによる集団訓練的な性格、(2)自然の観察・観賞、(3)歴史的、文化的な遺産や施設の見学という校外学習的な性格、の三者が時代と社会の変化に応じて、相互に関連しあって定着、普及したものである。今日でもこの基本的な性格は変わらないが、交通機関の発達につれて、バスや電車を利用して遠くまで出かける例も多い。また、そのときどきに、三つの性格のいずれかを強調したり、学年単位に実施したりするなど、その目的や形態も多様化しつつある。

［井上治郎］

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