Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-09-23
What to Teach in Geography.
COMMON SENSE VIEW.

Too much time is spent in many
schools on geography. Children stu
dy geography, geography. geography,
for years and years,-the primary,
the common school, the intermediate,
the advanced, &c. The minutia,
little, unimportant matters, which no.
body remembers nor cares to remem-
ber, are dwelt on too much. There
should be revolution in teaching, a
new apportionment of time, more of
it devoted to language, and less to
geography. The essentials of geog-
raphy can be taught 10 compara-
lively brief time, and these are real
ly all that is necessary.
To illustrate what we mean, We
subjoin lesson on States, the differ
ent States of the Union have each
some special characteristics. These
shc uld be known and, therefore,
taught as one ofthe essentials in the
geography of our country, to the ex.
clusion of much that is irrelevant.
Maine. sometimes called the "Pine
Tree State" is noted for its lakes and
lumber, island-euarded coast, and
good harbors ct is first in ship
building
New Hamshire, sometimes called
tie Switzerland of America" is
noted for its beautiful scenery aud
granite quarries.
Vermont the Green Mountain
State" is noted for lis butter and
cheese, maple sugar and marble
Massachusetts is the first State of
the Union in sea fisheries, and, for
its size, fret in railroads and manu-
factures.
Rhode Island, the smale est State
OF the Union, il, for its size. 6r.t in
the manufacture ofcotton and wooden
goods and hardware
Connecticut is noted for the manu-
faeture of clocks, sewing machiues.
firearms, and great variety Of 9TH
er goods
New York is the leading State of
the Union, ranking first in dairy pro-
ducts, Wecltb, popu' u'a.ion, commerce
and m manufactures.
New Jersey, sometimes called the
Garden State. produces great guam
titles of fruit and vegetables. 1t is
noted also for it's iron and zinc.
Pennsylvania is one of the richest
regions of the world in coal, iron and
petroleum, rankiEg as the fret State
of the Union 10 mining and the Sec
ond 10 population and manufactures.
Delaware forms part Of the peach
growing peninsula east of tie Chesa-
peake, and. like New Jersey, is large
ly engaged in market-gardening.
Maryland is a fine farming and
mining State, which, cut nearly in
twain by the Chesapeake, has also
many commercial advantages
Virginia is leading tobacco State,
the eastern part of which is penetra.
ted by arms of the Chesapeake, and
the western furrowed by the beauti-
ful valley of Virginia. The inbabi-
tauts of the Chesapeake Bay region,
in both Maryland and Virginia, are
largely engaged in fishing, fowling,
oystering. and market.gardeDing.
West Virginia is rich in coal, iron,
salt, and petroleum.
The District of Columbia is on the
Maryland side OF the Potomac. 1t is
Cover ned by Congress and commits
sioners appointed by the President.
The people have no Representations in
Congress. and no vote ia national
affairs
Kentucky ranks as the FIRST State
of the Union 10 tobacco. hemp, and
fine breeds of horses.
Ohio is second in mining, third in
population, and fourth in manufae-
lures. t3
Indiaoa is a leading livestock,
numbering, and mining State.
Illinois, the Prairie State" is
6rst 10 agriculture aud miles of rail.
road.