364 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



realm of the child's experience and vocabulary. Half 

 truths are always dangerous. It is not true that tem- 

 perature decreases as latitude increases. It is true the 

 temperature tends to decrease as latitude increases. It 

 is a good science to leave a principle in such form that 

 it is subject to enlargement. It should not be left in such 

 form that it becomes subject to correction. 



One of the worst faults of our science teaching has 

 been the assumption that Science, to be science, must be 

 abstract and expressed in abstract terms. The follow- 

 ing definition occurs in Mill's International Geography, 

 ''Geography is the exact and organized knowledge of the 

 distrilmtion of the phenomena on the surface of the 

 earth, culminating in the explanation of the interaction 

 between man and his terrestrial environment." Such a 

 definition may be in place in such a book, but we have 

 carried too much of such so called ''scientific language" 

 over from our colleges and universities into our high 

 schools. Geography deals with common place things 

 and phenomena. It should be expressed in common place 

 language. If the solution of problems has developed the 

 necessary facts, definitions, and principles and these 

 have become a part of the pupil's possessions, he now 

 has the tools for attacking larger and more complex prob- 

 lems, each of which may in turn develop new principles. 



In order that Geography may be taught in this way, 

 it would be necessary that we have, first of all, a group 

 of trained teachers. This would mean teachers not only 

 familiar with their subject matter but also trained in 

 scientific methods of presentation. The possession of 

 Geographical knowledge is no more assurance of the abil- 

 ity to teach than the mere possession of capital is assur- 

 ance that the holder is a financier. Second, there needs 

 to be within the State an organized body of teachers 

 who Avill accept the responsibility of guiding and develop- 

 ing the teaching of Geography. Whether or not such 

 a work is within the province of the Illinois Academy of 

 Science, I am not prepared to say. But unless some 

 organized group shall attempt this work, Geography 

 will never play any vital part in the education of High 

 School pupils. 



