Mr. Cowham's Address 291 



afternoon spent in thoroughly mastering- the twenty- 

 miles of journey between Charing Cross and God- 

 stone places the teacher in a position of being able 

 to explain the greater part of the physical confor- 

 mation of the surface over the entire area of South- 

 Eastern England. I conclude my paper by quoting 

 the summary of advantages to be derived from this 

 journey, which are printed at the end of my paper in 

 the Special Reports on Educational Subjects: — 



(i) Accurate first-hand knowledge of a given limited 

 and readily-accessible area is gained. This 

 first-hand knowledge — full, accurate, and per- 

 manent — gives a possession of high value for 

 purposes of gaining clear notions of districts 

 which cannot be similarly visited. 



(2) The power to observe is quickened, and at the 



same time ability to concentrate effort upon 

 a few well-defined objects in the midst of 

 great profusion and variety of material is 

 acquired. 



(3) A few truths, strikingly illustrated and capable 



of wide application, are established in every 

 journey. The accumulation of many isolated 

 facts is avoided. 



(4) The power to apply knowledge in possession 



to the acquisition of further knowledge pro- 

 vides both a means and a stimulus for the 

 exercise of self-effort. 



(5) Besides being of direct service in the acquisition 



of reliable knowledge, the participation in a 

 few " school journeys " enables the pupil to 

 use his after-school rambles and excursions 



