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National Geographic : 1900 Dec
Contents
GEOGRAPHY AT THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION observation of local features and scenery; (2) the art of "reading maps was not taught, nor was the construction of a map led up to by making plans of short walks and diagrams of the neighborhood; (3) the study of political and commercial geography was not based upon the study of physical geography, neither were the details of geographical study connected as cause and effect. There was no attempt to present a country to the scholar as a connected whole, and the lessons consisted of lists of names and figures, at the best arranged in groups. The chief reforms consisted, said Mr Rooper, in the intelligent study of local geography through local maps and models, and in object lessons which explained the principles of phys ical geography. The reliefs and models led up to the art of reading maps and to the demand for better maps. Such lessons were an ex cellent introduction to reasoning, and proved how little there was that was purely arbitrary, even in the sites of towns and villages in the neighborhood, much less in the industries which were carried on in them. The symbols on wall maps were vague and meaningless unless a context and significance were given them by previous prac tice in the building up of local plans and maps. The scholar should be carefully taught how to translate the symbols back into the forms of nature which they inadequately represented. The value of graphic work in the teaching of geography was strongly emphasized. The mere copying and coloring of maps by the pupil was rather an exer cise in drawing than in geography. Each map should be drawn to serve some definite purpose. It should disentangle from a complex whole some particular part which analysis brought to light, and illus trate it with precision and simplicity. Further, the sketch maps should proceed from the simpler to the more complex, and no map should be made of a country as a whole until the leading features had been dealt with separately, the constructive method being thus applied to the teaching of geography. The delicacy of the instruments now used for the detection of earthquake disturbances was thoroughly appreciated by the audience to which Prof. J. Milne made the surprising statement that no fewer than 130 earthquakes were recorded at Shide, in the Isle of Wight, last year. Of these disturbances, 125 had suboceanic origins, the Pacific origins being, with the possible exception of one group, on the face or at the bottom of those remarkable " deeps " which are found along the eastern and western margins of that ocean. Professor Milne stated that as there are reasons for believing that each of the 477
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