APPENDIX 373 



time, but if every child can be led to see the facts at hand 

 and from them to draw sound conclusions he will have 

 begun to think. One such lesson is worth more in his educa- 

 tion than mechanically memorizing the whole text in geog- 

 raphy would be. 



EXCURSIONS 



This kind of instruction, and, in fact, much of the later 

 study of geography, requires an occasional excursion. Yet it 

 is well to keep in mind that properly conducted excursions 

 require an unusual degree of energy and skill on the part of 

 the teacher. The children may easily mistake such an outing 

 for a picnic, and thus bring disaster to the teacher and to the 

 cause. On the other hand, the ability to conduct an excur- 

 sion well is one of the best tests of an able teacher. 



