THE POSITION OF GEOGRAPHY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. 373 



compared with those of this country, it is found that many recognise the 

 need for more advanced geographical teaching in the higher forms. ^ 



Evening Continuation Schools. — Geography is taught in many evening 

 continuation schools, and is reported to be an attractive subject. The 

 syllabus is given in Appendix VIII. The subject of elementary physio- 

 graphy is also taught, but it contains very little physical geography. 



B. THE TRAINING OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN 



GEOGRAPHY. 



The successful teaching of geography in our schools depends not so 

 much on sufficient syllabuses or efficient inspection as on properly trained 

 and enthusiastic teachers. 



Primary school teachers have opportunities for studying geography, 

 after passing the standards (1) during their apprenticeship at school, and 

 (2) in the training colleges. 



England and Wales. —Pupil teachers revise the geography of tlie world 

 in greater detail than in the school classes (Appendices IX. and X.). 

 This is the preliminary work necessary befoi-e attempting tlie training 

 college entrance examination, known as the Queen's Scholarship examina- 

 tion, which is on a restricted syllabus. 



In England and Wales this teaching is not of a very high standard, 

 judging from the examiners' reports. ' The answers to the general 

 questions showed that candidates had seldom been taught to group their 

 information upon any principle or to lay stress on the connection between 

 facts.' That is to say, the candidates seldom know any geography. 



Yet there are great inducements held out to those who know enough 

 geography to gain distinction in this examination. The best candidates 

 are rewarded by being ' released from the obligation to take up the subject 

 again in the training colleges, and are also exempt from it in the 

 certificate examinations.' 



The proportion of students who take geography in the resident 

 training colleges is very large, but this may be due to the enlightened 

 views of the principals of these colleges, who may realise the need for 

 thorough training in geography of all elementary school teachers, most of 

 whom will be called upon to teach it. 



The following table shows the numbers taking geography in their 

 certificate examinations. 



In some of the Day Training Colleges the majority of those who have 

 gained distinction in the Queen's Scholarship examination do not take up 

 geography again, but this may, perhaps, be altered, by the new i-egulations 

 admitting geography as an optional subject for the first degree examina- 

 tion in the colleges which form Victoria University (Appendix XXXIX.). 



' See Appendices V. to VII., giving programmes in Austria, Belgium and France. 

 See also Professor Levasseur's account of French programmes in the Report of the 

 Sixth International Qeographical Congress, London, 1895. 



