Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-12-18
CORRELATION OF HISTORY AND
GEOGRAPHY IN THE GRAM
MAR GRADES.

(Read before the Teachers Meeting,
Dec. 5th, 1914.)
In the teaching of history and geog-
raphy no subjects can yield better
training, nor give more valuable con-
tent. The elements of success are good
technical training and clear mental
vision on the part Of the teacher, ex-
act methods of work on the part of
the pupil, and adequate equipment OF
history and geography class rooms.
The history and geography of our
grammar grades are so closely con-
nected, that the one is indispensable
iii the teaching of the other.
In the study of any portion of his
tory, the geographical locations of
places under consideration, should
come first. Valuable equipment as
aids to the study of teaching history
and geography are found in Illustrat-
ed Historical Topics, containing sylla-
bus, outline maps, pictures and
source-readings. In the series of out
line maps, we may use the skeleton
maps for elementary geography
classes; desk maps for history and
geography classes, to show historical
commercial and political facts given
upon the physical basis. Wall maps
are essential i'll history classes to the
teaching of historical development,
such as the extension of the Roman
dominion, the territorial growth of
the United States, etc. The use of the
outline maps brings to the geography
and history classes the pleasure of
IS, - IN concrete form the intellect
ual knowledge acquired from class
and textbooks.
AS history is record of the past
events Of Il nation of people and the
country in which the nation lived. il
Is certainly very necessary for pupils
to know of its location physical fea-
lures, its political divisions, govern
ment, relative position to other coun-
tries of the world, its climate; produc-
tons, etc, in short Il thorough knowl-
edge OF the geography of the coun-
try.
In the teaching of historical loca-
t'ons, and dates-these will bring i'm
portant events and characters to our
minds. With the teaching of the 10
cation and time of the first perma-
rent settlement in America, we as
sociate Capt. John Smith as the lead
ing man of the colony and Pocahontas
as the Indian girl who prevented the
colonists from being massacred. AS
another illustration, while teaching
the North American Indian. we have
an opportunity of indellibly fixing
in the minds of the pupil, the history
CT the Pilgrims-their departure from
England, their sojourn in Holland,
their advent into the land of the red
man, the story of their hardships, the
first Thanksgiving, the visit of the
Indian chief, etc. AS still third il
lustration-in teaching the country of
Egypt-teach the history of the Nile
Valley and its gifts TO civilizations
overflow of the Nile-the people
their strong and weak points-gov-
crnment, religion its contributions TO
progress in industrial and fine arts.
III science and mathematics, in writing
and literature.
The above mentioned facts are
merely illustrations of the Importance
OF teaching history and geography in
correlated form. In present history
in teaching Current Events" the ge
ography of the subject adds greatly
to the description. To those of US who
read the daily newspapers and discuss
the facts of the great European strug-
gle now in progress-the geography
forms an important part of our clear
understanding of the situation.
PAULINE HOWARD.