The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-03-05
Teaching Geography.

Teaching geography. evvra7vy
Few branches are more profitable,
and none other as interesting, to the
young pupil as Geography. Not
that child of eight years is likely
to be profoundly interested in the
mass Of statistics collected in most
of our biographies, or is fitted TO di-
gest properly much of the gazetteer"
portion usually classed as ''descrip-
tive" but all that important portion
which is enabled to appeal to the pu-
Pills perceptions in the attractive
garb of maps, can not fail TO be OF
surprising interest to the youngest
in school, whenever properly supple.
mented by live teacher. When we
say a hve teacher, we donot so much
refer to one well versed III the science,
or one that likes, or did like thesstudy
when she was a pupil, a. one who
likes to teach just what she IS called
upon to do. No one has a valid
right to stand before class for a
moment, as teacher, who does not
consider it is worth hours of prepas
ration, to see the look of pleased in
telligence beaming from the eyes of
those who had puzzled their brains
over the lifeless page for the elucida-
ton which would not come. Meth
er do we mean by the live teacher,
the one who tells the pupil most, or
in the most interesting manner, i'm
portant as that faculty may be; but
one who, by being fully interested,
knows how to, or at least, succeeds
in arousing spirit of emulation
among the pupils, which carries all
the outworks of difficulties without a
blow, merely from possessing tile
courage to meet what seems so for
midable. Then, granting that we
have such teacher, let us put the
young geographer upon the study Of
form, in map-St11y and map-dra.o-
ing. t9 ~ y
Let him fix the outlines by re-
peated trials, not only at drawing,
but at oral de ,cription of the boun-
Diary, even the most minute discern
lille upon the map. After this study
of form, let comparison be made I
prominent feature Of the lesson. Al
ways have some unit Of comparison,
more commonly your own. state, fol
other states and small political divis,
ions-the United States for the lar
ger ones. Then fill in the map
with the principal mountain ranges
chief rivers, and half dozen chit
cities, with the names of each print
ed or written. Now we can exercise
the child upon direction and distance
both within the map in question, anC
with reference to surrounding coun
tries. Encourage habits of observa
ton, both concerning his own worl
and that of his fellow pupils, as wei
as invite them to ask questions abou
the climate, productions, inhabitants
and many other things about whicI
all children are curious, so long as
does not come in the shape of "a les
son to be committed" But no1
comes the time TO direct their atten
ton to the account of these yert
things in their text book, and pro,,,
Use to add much to that, in the iorr
Of a story, if you please, after the
have told you what the book Say
about it.
This method, it seems to US, wi
save years in the study Of. that mos
important and interesting branch
And 1t seems doubly important tha
this branch be taught in accordance
with the laws which govern the min,
in its development, as it is the frs
which meets the pupil in the shane
OF lesson to be learned. excen
spelling. fla distaste for learnins
is imbibed through the false meth
DDS of teaching at this stage, the pu
pills intellectual life is dwarfed be
yond all recovery; and the matter O
dry, rote recitation of statistics anC
names before the interest of the ~,
pll has been excited in some sl1cl
manner as here briefly indicated
seems as senseless as attemnt;nc +,
gain a thorough knowledge Of Englist
grammar, by committing in orde
the words Of a dictionary, l|Ea3