STUDY OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 29 



physical geography have appeared which, while avoiding the 

 use of illustrations drawn from a limited area like the Thames 

 basin, treat the subject to a large extent from his standpoint. 

 " Physiography " and " physical geography " have, indeed, 

 changed places since the 'seventies ; and it is the claims of 

 the latter, as regarded by present-day writers, that I wish to 

 press upon those who are concerned with the teaching of science. 

 These claims have been put forward prominently of recent 

 years. The Royal Geographical Society, largely owing to the 

 energy of its late President, Sir Clements Markham, has been 

 actively engaged in advocating the proper teaching of geography, 

 physical, political, historical, and commercial, and has been 

 largely instrumental in obtaining the establishment of Boards 

 of Geographical Education at the older universities. 



In 1893 a meeting of public-school masters was held at 

 Oxford, and at that meeting the " Geographical Association " 

 was founded, and now flourishes. Its secretary is Mr. A. J. 

 Herbertson, the Reader in Geography at Oxford. Its aim is 

 " to impress the teaching of geography by spreading the know- 

 ledge of all such methods as call out the pupils' intelligence 

 and reasoning powers, and make geography a real educational 

 discipline, instead of merely loading the memory with names 

 and isolated facts." Every term the association issues a magazine, 

 The Geographical Teacher, for the discussion of methods of teach- 

 ing geography and the diffusion of information useful to teachers, 

 which is sent free to all members of the association, and in many 

 other ways gives assistance to geographical teachers. The 

 annual subscription is 55. (and may be compounded by the 

 payment of £1 10s.), and intending members should address 

 themselves to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. S. Masterman, 

 St. Margaret's, Dorking, and if engaged in teaching should 

 state in what capacity. The association now numbers over 

 500 members. 



But notwithstanding what has been done by this and other 

 bodies in establishing the claims of geography, and especially 

 of the physical side of the study, to take its right place in 

 the schools, progress, it must be admitted, is but slow. Nor 

 is this at all surprising when we consider the difficulties to 

 be encountered. It is clear that the schoolboy cannot be 

 expected to get any real knowledge of the whole range of 

 sciences, physical and biological, but must confine his attention 



