The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-08
From Halls Lectures on School keeping.
GEOGRAPHY

Is a subject, which will undoubtedly claim
considerable attention in your schools. To
teach it in the best way is desirable, ard
though possibly may not adduce any new
thoughts on the subject, still wish to call
your attention TO it moment.
The mode generally pursued is TO present
a child with map ofthe world, teach him
its general divisions, how to distinguish
them on the map, to bound them, &c. This
mode has been approved by most instruc-
tors, but / am willing to confess, it has
appeared to me the very opposite of the
course that nature would direct. Why
should we attempt to teach child what he
cannot comprehend? Why should he learn
the names of continents, islands, oceans,
seas and lakes, rivers and mountains, many
thousands of miles distant, before he is
taught the geography of his own town,
county, state, and country?
But a want of suitable works on this sub
ject will render it impossible to adopt a
course such as shall recommend, except
in a few states.
Where il is practicable. therefore, let the
child be taught something of the geography
of his own neighborhood and especially of
his own state, before he commences the
study CT it, in more extended manner.
Let him be taught the boundaries of his
own town; the names and situation of its
mountains, rivers, ponds, and other inter-
esting particulars. Then the same things
may he taught him of the adjoining towns,
and of the county and state. BY this mode,
he will be led to form some ideas of distance
and the size of places. He will be prepar-
ed to learn the same things in regard to
other states, and his country and continent.
From his own he may pass to other coun-
tries and continents, until the features of
the world are in succession brought dis
tinctly to his view.
As the above course would be novelty
in many places at the present time, | shall
not dwell upon it, but give few general
directions.
1. Endeavor to have the outlines, the
more general parts in this study, the first
learned and very thoroughly acquired.
These should always be distinguished from
the subjects in detail. They will be a
guide to other knowledge, and will with
out doubt be better remembered, than
If associated with multiplicity of facts in
detail.
2. Prominent facts in geography may be
learned in such way as to be remembered
with greater ease. As far as practicable,
let this be done.
8. Make it an object to exhibit the facil-
tiles of obtaining the necessaries and con-
veniences of life, furnished by different
climates and countries, also the inconveni-
.ences and privations peculiar to any section
of the world on which the lesson of the
class may be. This is recommended for
the purpose of comparison with our own
happy land, and for showing the general
af Cd tx+hio oh hoe Il
things, that one part of the world is depend
ent on another for some of the convenien-
.ces of life; also for exhibiting the fact,
that no part of the world is unproyiied with
the means of human happiness. To illus
trate where the soil is of the best quality,
we seldom find mines of the rich or useful
metals. Where these are found, the soil
is often such that agriculture cannot be
employed as a source of wealth. The most
productive regions of the earth are often
visited with dreadful storms and tempests
Troublesome insects, poisonous serpents
and the most ferocious beasts annoy the in
habitants Of some parts, where otherwise a
residence might almost be compared 10 one
in the Elysian fields.
Scholars will always be interested by re.
marks on subjects Of this kind, and not only
so, they will derive lasting benefits from
them.
A. Accustom your scholars to draw map:
on states, from recollection. If they know
this will be expected of them, they will ex
smine the situation of places, mountains
rivers, &c. with much more attention thar
otherwise, and will probably retain thu
knowledge which they acquire, much bet
ter than if not required to attend to tbi
exercise. The instructor, at the close o
the recitation, should examine the states
and point out the DEFICIENCIES or errors.