Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-06-03
& DU,Al ION
c. D. BELDEN, EDITOR.
GEOGRAPHY TEACHING.

(BY PROF. C. +. BARNES;
frequent reviews are necessity, and
in the best schools the pupils are required
to reproduce at each recitation, not only
the main facts of theelast lesson, but the
prominent facts of any of the past lessons.
One secret of success lies IN proper re-
viewing. - y
Daily reviews are absolutely necessary
to success in fastening the facts of geo.
graphy in the memory. In such reviews
these facts should be so arranged Us to
give the pupils clear idea of their mean
ing, and of their mutual relation and de-
Depdence. - =.
Comparisons should he constantly in
stituted between the natural divisions of
one hemisphere and those of the other:
the drainage of one continent and that of
another; the plants and ANIMALS of one
zone and those of the other zones; one
race of men and other races; the progress
of intelligence in our land and the same
in other lands; and our occupations and
those of other people throughout the
earth. =,
During this entire course, the greatest
possible pains should be taken to give
variety to the study; the endless repeti-
lions of descriptive geography should be
omitted; and every effort should be made
to develop the intelligence of the pupils
to lay solid foundation for future geo.
graphical study. and to prepare for the
only possible intelligent study of history.
THIS METHOD OF GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY
INVOLVES:
|. An entire cutting loose from the
traditions of the schoolmaster, which
have been so blindly followed in the past.
II. Instead of oEe textbook studied in
all its needless details, the use of all text
books searched as books of reference.
III. Punishment of the textbook from
the class room, except for purposes of
reading or reference.
w., A much greater knowledge of the
subject, on the part of the teacher, than
is customary, or than the pupil can be ex-
pected to have. :.,-
V. A habit of daily study and prepara-
ton, by teacher as we'll as pupil, for the
work of each recitation.
vi. A large fund of illustration at the
teachers command, which has been
gathered from books of travel and his
tory, from his own experiences, and the
experiences of others.
VII. Instead of the parrot-llke repeti-
ton of memOriZed aoords, the statement
of the facts of each lesson in the language
of the children.
VIII. Less time given to the dry bones
of geography, and more attention shown
to the living forms which are found in
such profusion upon the earth.
TX. Apr0found and increasing interest
in geographical study, as means of in
tellectual culture and as q means of
awakening an interest IN all study.
x. The spirit and persistence which
characterize all true study andrecitation,
otherwise failure will be absolutely GER
tain.
That this will require hard work upon
the part of the teacher as we'll as the
pupil, is very mild statement of truth.
1t will require such study as is not often
given-the study which broadens the
mental horizon and gives intellectual
muscle.
Such study continued through a term
of years in the school-room will change
the mental flabbiness," 80 often found
there, into sturdy mental power. If geo.
graphy is SO poorly taught in our schools,
the fault does not lie with the pupils or
with the subject itself, for there is no
studies which can be made more interest
ing or more profitable.
Teachers who have not already pre-
pared for giving instruction in drawing
should send at once for the necessary
books, to Ivison Brakeman, Taylor & Co.,
149 Wabash Av., Chicago. For primary
work the set of 10 cards costs II cents,
and the manual accompanying 35c. For
average work in our district schools,
Whites primary drawing book No. I,
seems the best. Price 76 cents per dozen.
Teachers assistant accompanying 35c. 1t
would be an excellent plan if pupils
would provide themselves with the slate
dotted with guide points, and ruled for
writing. They cost only 80 cents per
dozen, and with these in the hands Of the
pupils, the teacher might make a good
beginning in drawing, with the Teachers