RELATION TO GEOGRAPHY AND ARITHMETIC. 283 



tion of the surface of the earth. It must be genuine 

 " earth study," actual "study of the physical environ- 

 ment of man," as it is rightly called in the Report of 

 the Committee of Ten. 



In our work in geography we have much to learn 

 from the schools of Germany, where they pursue the 

 three clearly differentiated lines of geography work, 

 home geography (Heimath-kunde), folk study ( Volk- 

 kunde), and earth study (Erd-kunde). Their field ex- 

 cursions, sometimes occupying several days, and their 

 well-equipped geographical museums could be intro- 

 duced with great profit into our American schools. 



The physical geography of the past, like much of the 

 science work, has been almost entirely a study of the 

 mere form and structure of the earth as it is, of pres- 

 ent physical conditions, with almost no consideration of 

 the agencies and processes by which the earth came to 

 be as it is, and by which it is being constantly changed. 

 We have seemed to regard the earth as a dead planet, 

 like the moon, with its forms fixed and unchanging, 

 with its valleys and hills and capes arid bays ever the 

 same. No conception can be more false. Every par- 

 ticle of soil at our feet, every raindrop, tells of change, 

 past, present, future. The brooks and waves, the rills 

 and pools in the street, tell of unceasing activity. Even 

 the mineral world not merely is, but is becoming, is 

 adapting itself. The seamed and jointed rock is ever- 

 lasting only in name. 



A river is much more than " a stream of water flow- 

 ing through the land ; " it is an always-working, never- 



