THE POSITION OF GEOGRAPHY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. 407 



5, Ingenieur Civil des Mines. Industrial and Commercial Geo- 

 graphy. 



6. Candidat en Sciences Physiques et Matheniatiques. Physical Astro- 

 nomy. 



See L'Enseignement Superieur de la Geographic en Belgique, by 

 J. du Fief (Bulletin de la Socitit^ Royale Beige de Geographic, xvi. 

 No. 3). 



4. EDUCATIONAL WORK OF GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETIES. 



XLII. — Reports on the Educational Work of the British 

 Geographical Societies. 



Eoyal Geographical Society. 



' The Royal Geographical Society, in addition to providing systematic 

 training for intending explorers, has taken a leading part in improving 

 ordinaiy geographical education. 



' So far as can be traced, the first instance of encouragement given to 

 general geographical instruction was through the Society of Arts. In 

 1866 it was resolved that a prize of 51. be granted to candidates at the 

 Society of Arts Examination for Geography. This grant continued to be 

 made till 1873, when the Society of Arts intimated that they had discon- 

 tinued the award of a prize for geography. 



' Prizes for geographical teaching in the great public schools were first 

 awarded by the Society in 1869 and continued to be awarded till 1883. 

 It is admitted that they had little or no influence in bringing about the 

 object in view, the recognition of geography as a regular subject in the 

 curriculum of our public schools. 



'In addition to this, in 1876 silver medals were awarded in connection 

 with the geography paper in the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examina- 

 tions. These medals continue to be awarded ; in these examinations 

 geography occupies a really important place, and the number of candi- 

 dates is very large. 



'In 1882 the Council instituted prizes to be awarded for geography 

 examinations to the cadets on board the training ships Worcester and 

 Conway. These continue to be awarded, with satisfactory results. 



'In 1884 the Society appointed Dr. Scott Keltic as an Inspector of 

 geographical education for one year, and authorised him to make a collec- 

 tion of books and appliances used in teaching geography. 



'The result of this action on the part of the Council was — (1) the 

 appointment of a Reader in Geography at Oxford for five years, in 

 February 1887, at a stipend of 300^., to be paid half by the Society and 

 half by the University. (2) The appointment in June 1888 of a Lecturer 

 in Geography at Cambridge, to whose stipend the Society would con- 

 tribute 1501. annually. As the Lecturer first appointed never entered on 

 his office, a new Lecturer was appointed in May 1889, the Council agree- 

 ing to pay its contribution to his stipend for five years from the date of 

 his appointment. This was renewed for five years in January 1893. 



(3) A contribution of 50?. annually by the Society towards Travelling 

 Scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge for four years from June 1891. 



(4) A contribution of 601. a year from 1886 to 1891 to the Oxford 

 University Extension. (5) Contribution of 50?. a year for three years 

 towards the stipend of a Lecturer on Geography at Owens College, 



