792 REPORT— 1887. 



regarding whicli there are so many elements of error. It is so difficult for the child to 

 recollect which term means length and which breadth, and then to get the restive 

 imagination to grasp the fact that the length is sideways and not up and down, as it 

 apparently should be ; for even if the earth is shown to be an oblate spheroid, there is 

 nothing to lead a chUd to see that there is a greater circumference round the equator 

 than round the poles, and the time has not arrived to perplex the child with the views 

 of the ancients on the subject. Then, again, if the child does recollect that the 

 meridians of longitude run from north to south, and the parallels of latitude from 

 east to west, it is probable that he may measure the longitude in degrees along the 

 meridian and the latitude along the parallels ; a very common and recurring error, 

 difficult to deal with. The only practicable method is to put the facts of the case 

 into amusing verse and commit it to the memory by song. At this stage, also, 

 some easy standards of measurement put into verse and to music should be learnt 

 by rote, to enable the child readily to recollect the relative measurements of the 

 earth, sun, and moon, and the radii of their orbits and times of progression. 



I lay great stress upon these matters at the beginning, because they are really 

 all in all to those who wish to succeed in the science in after-life, and I have 

 viewed the matter from the standpoint of what will be required at the age of 

 eighteen to twenty, when the mind ought to be capable of taking up any subject, 

 instead of considering what show of learning the child should be able to produce 

 in an examination at an early age. The stock-in-trade of knowledge for each 

 young person need be very slender, but it must be of the right sort and best quality. 

 No doubt there are many children badly trained who can gradually work out 

 matters correctly for themselves, but these are the few with originality of mind, 

 and even they would be benefited by not having to spend a portion of their lives in 

 unlearning. 



Once the preliminary difficulties are over and the power of observation and 

 reflection is acquired, even in a small degree, the study of geography becomes 

 but a simple matter, for it is the learning of common things, matters of everyday 

 life, which we may, if in the country, acquire to a partial extent of our own experi- 

 ence ; but though so simple it requires continuous application and attention. 



In each calling or trade a man may become an experienced geographer to a 

 limited degree. The pilot, for example, is an expert in the geography of the seas he 

 works in, for he not only knows the ports, the coast lines, and the sunken rocks and 

 sandbanks, but he also knows the tides, the winds, he studies the clouds and the 

 currents, and has an intimate knowledge of the contours of the shallows ; moreover, 

 he knows the shipping of various countries, the merchandise they carry, and the 

 produce shipped from each port. In the same manner, by hunting, shooting, fishing, 

 bicycling, birdsnesting, &c., we acquire a knowledge of natural history and topo- 

 graphy which aids us most materially in the study of geography, and which in a 

 limited degree is the study of geography. 



Even in large towns it is practicable to learn lessons in geography from actual 

 experience and observation, for if the markets and railway produce are examined, 

 it can soon be ascertained whence the articles come and from what ports, and 

 with careful attention most valuable lessons in political economy can be gained. 



The bulk, however, of our children are cooped up in towns and walled play- 

 grounds, and even when in the country are too often confined to one field ; they 

 have few opportunities of insensibly studying the wonders of nature, and therefore 

 in order to develop their powers of observation and to understand geography 

 artificial means must be made use of. Great eflbrta are now being made under 

 the New Code to produce these artificial means, by raised models and water and 

 other devices, and it is to be hoped that, if these schemes can be carried out, the 

 habit of observation will be induced ; but the memory also must be at the same 

 time actively exercised and stored with fresh facts day by day. 



The knowledge of geography thus, even in its restricted sense, embraces the life 

 of an Englishman of every class and occupation, and its study is of the greatest 

 importance to every man who has an occupation ; it is singular that so little com- 

 parativety is thought of cultivating the science, and how small interest the State 

 has hitherto taken in fostering this class of education. 



