G76 REPORT — 1902. 



the latter down to the nearest watercourse ? If you talk of the coast line of 

 Western Patagonia or of Norway do you include such headlands as are connected 

 with the mainland at low water, and exclude the islands, or do you mean the 

 coast line of both ? What is tlae main channel of a river ? Is it where the 

 flowing water scours deepest from time to time, or is it a fixture amongst a 

 score of minor channels that shift and change ? Perfect definition is of course 

 hopeless. It is not in the power of man to deal with all the infinite variations 

 of geographical feature and to classif)' them as he would specimens of botanical 

 origin or of natural history. But we might arrive at a much more satisfactory 

 dictionary of geographical terms in our own language than at present exists, 

 and we might ofl'er that dictionary to the geographers of the world at large and 

 say, ' Here we have at least endeavoured to explain our meaning when we make 

 use of geographical expressions. This is what is taught in our schools as the 

 best means of translating the general idea into a distinct mental conception of 

 natural features ; and in future when we iise these terms you will know on the 

 best authority that England can produce what it is that wo mean by them.' 

 Then possibly instead of having to turn to Germany and France for assistance 

 in expressing ourselves clearly when drawing up legal documents dealing with 

 geographical conditions, we may find the English language become the standard 

 for this special class of literature in spite of its verbal poverty. This at any 

 rate is what is now being attempted by the Geographical Society, which spares 

 no efl:brt in order to obtain the best literary assistance in its compilation that 

 the country aflbrds. We shall soon have a geographical dictionary, I trust, and 

 be able to enter with a little more ease and confidence into the field of literary 

 discussion of geographical subjects. 



Progress of Geographical Uducation. 



The progress of geographical education in the country, although it is by no 

 means so universally apparent as might be considered desirable, yet shows en- 

 couraging symptoms of vitality in many directions. 



The Civil School at Oxford, for instance, conducted by Mr. Mackinder, has 

 already made most successful efforts to produce expert teachers of geography. 

 Here, in addition to 208 students, of whom 163 were men attending courses 

 during the past year, five students have already won the Post-graduate Diploma 

 granted by the University, and it is encouraging to note that four out of the five 

 have already obtained distinctively geographical work. Others similarly qualified, 

 if of sufficient ability, would probably not have long to wait for opportunities. 

 In addition to its regular University functions, the O.xford school has this year 

 organised a summer course of three weeks' studj^ This has been well attended 

 by teachers and instructors from all parts of the country, and even from America. 



In London a department of economic geography is in course of organisation 

 at the School of Economics and Political Science, and geography will become a 

 compulsory subject in examinations. In the matter of examinations we have to 

 chronicle the issue of a most excellent syllabus for the new London Matriculation 

 which should ultimately have great influence on the teaching in many schools. 



Further, the ' Geographical Association,' a body now of several hundred 

 teachers, has made great progress. It has recently commenced the issue of a 

 journal known as the ' Geographical Teacher,' one of whose functions appears to 

 be the criticism of the questions set in various public examinations. 



Satisfactory progress has also to be recorded of the school of surveying ini- 

 tiated by the Royal Geographical Society, now under Mr. Reeves. The diploma 

 has been awarded to a number of candidates (about twenty-five) who have passed 

 through the school, who have invariably found suitable employment as surveyors 

 subsequently. Indeed the demand for trained R.G.S. surveyors already exceeds 

 the suppl}% although it cannot as yet be maintained that our means of training are 

 as perfect as we could wish. 



In military schools the report of the late Committee appointed to Consider the 

 Education of Army Officers shows clearly enough that amongst all the necessary 



