Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-12-07
ton of the most incredulous by careful
observation both in our schools and out

The reason of this defective knowledg
of Geography we hold to be traceable t
this fact, that this subject has been pre-
sented to the mind of the young as a col
lection of unconnected facts, each of which
must be recollected Independently, ant
each of which, therefore, is easily forgot
ten.
This noble science, instead of being {
mere catalogue of facts, TO be committed tc
memory is capable of being made means
of growth to the mind and affording the
highest exercise to all its powers. Bu'
the question comes in here; how is the
subject to be presented to the pupil that
he may. secure the best possible results
1t should be our aim in presenting any
subject to the pupil, to do it in sucha way
that it will not only give the clearest and
most perfect knowledge of the subject
itself, but will afford the best facilities fol
the complete and symmetrical develop
mcnt of the mind. To determine such q
method we inquire. First, what order Of
study is necessitated by the law of the
minds development. Second, the nature
of the subject? Third, by what special
methods can this general plan be adapted
TO the needs of the mind in the several
stages of its development?
1st. This development ofthe mind Al
though all the faculties of the mature
mind exist from the beginning of its life
in a greater or less degree of activity, yet
they attain their full development at diff
ferent periods. They do not all come in
to activity at once, but successfully, the
full action of each subsequent class re-
quiring the previous development and ac-
tivity of the preceding; just as all the
capacities of the plant for producing leaf,
stem, flower, and fruit exist in the germ,
yet these do not all appear at once, be-
cause the higher cannot be developed
without the prc-exi5tence of the lower as
4 basis
The earliest to attain full activity are
the pcrceptire, or observing faculties
These through their agents the senses are
extremely active in the young child, and
constitute the only means 6y which the
images OF the external world can enter his
mind and give rise to thought. In CON
junction with these is the conceptive
power, by means of which the mind
grasps and retains the Impressions it re-
ceives through the prcceptive powers,
and is able to recall them and learns to
express them. Next to become active is
that analY tic power Of the understanding,
by means of which the general conccp-
ton, which alone could bc obtained in the
preceding condition of the mind, is seDa
rated into its elements, aud studied in de
tail; the knowledge acquired is consider
cd and ar-an Scd; and new ideas a-e dc
rived. Lastly is developed the reasoning
power by which the mind rises to HIGH
scneralizations, is able to asccrtaiu the
causes of phenomena observed, and from.
known causes to predict results. W,
may suppose, thea, az a general p-inci1le
growing ont Of the mind, thA, the portion
Of the subject hich addresses itself main
ly to the powers Of perception, and giv,
only the simplest possible exercise to tbs
reasoning powers is the only one proper
to be piescntodto the oIng pupil. Aft
erwad is needed !; mole minute and de
tailed Investigation which will bsing ints
reputation the earlier powers Of the TN
deTsianding. Lastly, the reasoning DOW
ers are mainly 10 be addressed; for til;
facts with which he student deals mas
be viewed together in their mutual rela
ton and combined actipn, and generaiiza
ton made thereffom, by means of which
ii knowledge Of the laws which Cover,
them is arrived at. If, therefore, an,
method in the study of Geography is t
contribute to the minds development, i
must furnish the appropriate degree o
exercise for all its powers, i'll the order o
their successive awakening; and We mus
distinguish three natural phases-the per
eeptive, the analytic, and the synthetic
through Which the learner in this subiee
must pass, in order to receive all il i
capable Of contributing to his develop
ment, as also 10 obtain perfect knowl
edge of TIE subject of his study.
I'd. Nature OF the subjective com
now to the second paIt of our problem
viz, to deternlin the nature ofthe sutjec
and the general plan of treatment CROWN
out of that nature. We are instructed t
regard Geography as the science of th
globe, considered, not as mere aggrega
ton of unretained parts, but as an organ
lied agdole, formed of members each la,
ing an individual character and speci;
functions, all mutually dependent an
operating together, according to laws c:
tablished by the creator, to perform funt
tions possible to no one alone. If this /
the case, then the study of tisto be COZ
tducted on precisely the same general pla
as that of any other individuaIorganiz;
ton of unrelated we desire to asceltifil IL
conformation, thes laws Of its operation
and its adaptedness to .ploducetbe nesu
attended. FiIst,. is required a gener
view of the whole, in order II ascertai
| its figure, the part or member Oh which
! is composed, their comparative size, an
the general conformation Of each. Sc
ond. each of these individuals is TO |
made the subject of special detailed stud
in order to ascertain ITS particular organ
tzation, the character, relation arrang
ment ofits several portions. The chara
tier ,ofthe whole individual resulting ther
| from, and finally the phenomena of Ii
associated with. it, whether vegetabl
animal, or that Of man considered boz
ethnologieally, and in the social capacil
of states or nations. Third. Having a
certained the individual character of tt
several members, we look at them agai