THE POSITION OF GEOGRAPHY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. 389 



5. Boundaries of the five parts of the globe. Some of the great world 

 voyages (Columbus, Magellan, &c.), in order to familiarise the pupils with a 

 knowledge of the great divisions of the globe. 



Show on the globe and on maps the chief European States and their 

 capitals. 



6. Belgium. — (a) Boundaries, shape, area, population ; compare with 

 other States, people, and languages. 



(b) Explanation of principal terms used in political geography — 

 commune, canton, arrondissement, province, &c. 



(c) Division of Belgium into provinces. Boundaries and chief towns 

 of each province. 



(d) Physical Geography. General aspect of country — plains, hills, 

 plateaux, and valleys. Water partings and river basins. Course of the 

 Scheldt and the Meuse and their chief tributaries. 



(e) Detailed description of home region. 



Map drawing from memory of the map of the province, and other 

 sketches. 



N.B. — If time permits the teacher may begin the more advanced study 

 of Belgium given in the following programme : — 



Advanced Course. 



1. Belc/ium. — Revision of preceding course. More advanced study of 

 its physical geography ; the chief watercourses. Important productions 

 of the three kingdoms. Agricultural regions. Great industrial centres. 

 Commerce, transport routes by land and water, imports and exports. 



Summary description of each of the nine provinces. 

 Sketches and maps drawn from memory. 

 Exercises in the use of Belgian railway time-tables. 



2. Europe. — Summary description of coasts, seas, gulfs, straits, large 

 islands, and peninsulas. 



Chief countries in Europe : boundaries, government, chief towns, 

 natural wealth, industry, most important commercial relations with 

 Belgium. 



3. General ideas, very succinct, of Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania. 

 Accounts of some great explorations, the route being traced in chalk 



on the black globe. 



Optional. 



4. Maps. — Reading a graduated series of maps of the commune, and 

 making sketches. 



5. Cosmography. — Orientation by the compass, by pole star. 

 Latitude, longitude. Determination of a point on the surface of the 



sphere. 



Distances on a sphere. Dimensions of the earth. 



Rotation and revolution of the earth. 



The phases of the moon, eclipses and comets. 



VII. — Official Programme for Primary Schools, France 

 (from January 18, 1887). 



Infants (5-7 years). 



Familiar talks and simple preparatory exercises, designed above all to 

 stimulate the habit of observation among children by making them look 



