()X GEOGRAPHY TEACHING. gi)] 



official interpretation of the regulations of the Scottish Universities Entrance Board 

 due to become effective in February 1927. This Board accepts the group leaving 

 certificate as exempting from an entrance examination, provided, inter alia, it includes 

 (but not necessarily on the higher standard) a pass in mathematics or an ' approved 

 science. The regulations, however, exert a distinct preference for the selection of 

 mathematics or a classical language on the higher standard in the leaving certificate. 

 Further bias against geography is introduced by an official note on the regulations, 

 precluding the recognition of a higher pass in science where the combination does not 

 include physics (studied continuously throughout the whole science course) ; and 

 again by the special regulations where, in the alternative examination conducted by 

 the Board the choice in Group II is restricted to mathematics and physical science, 

 defined as physics and chemistr}'. In illustration of the effects of these regulations, 

 it may be mentioned that the number of candidates at the open bursary competition 

 at the University of Glasgow who have taken geography this year has fallen from 

 0O-6O (in recent years) to 29. 



The feeling of the Scottish members of the Committee is that, as a medium of 

 general education and as a contribution to mental equipment, geography, properly 

 taught, is entitled to hold in the school curriculum a position inferior to no other 

 subject, save perhaps English, and that it ought to be regarded in the examination as 

 equivalent to mathematics or to the science combination. It is impossible to judge 

 at present of the likelihood of such a view ultimately finding recognition and adoption 

 in official quarters. It has been claimed that under the new regulations the position 

 of geography has in general not been lowered, but rather, in certain respects, improved. 

 The official attitude to the subject claims to be favourable. Nevertheless, whether 

 on account of limitations of school time, misinterpretation of regulations by officials, 

 or the attitude of the Scottish Universities Entrance Board, the effects of adverse 

 influences on the study of geography in the schools arc clearly in evidence. 



The Sub-Committee, therefore, conclude that the present position of geography 

 in Scottish schools is highly unsatisfactory, and there is evidence that these are 

 much behind P^nglish schools, both as to the standard attained and as to the number 

 of pupils carrying the subject beyond a very elementary stage. There appear to be 

 about 35,000 candidates sitting annually in geography for school certificates in 

 England and Wales ; while in Scotland in recent years there have been less than 

 200 candidates in geography for the leaving certificate. In view of the importance 

 of the subject as affording an introduction to scientific method and logical thought, 

 the Sub-Committee regard this as a disastrous state of affairs. Moreover, geography, 

 along with history, offers the only means whereby pupils can be given that framework 

 of precise facts which must underlie sound judgments of the national and inter- 

 national problems that confront the citizen in the complex modern world. 



Derbyshire Caves.— Interim Report of Committee (Sir W. Boyd 

 Dawkins, Chairman ; Mr. G. A. Garfitt, Secretary : Mr. Leslie 

 Armstrong, Mr. M. Burkitt, Mr. E. N. Fallaize, Dr. R. V. Favell, 

 Miss D. A. E. Garrod, Mr. Wilfrid Jackson, Dr. R. R. Marett, 

 Mr. L. S. Palmer, Mr. H. J. E. Peake) appointed to co-operate icitli 

 a Committee of the Royal Anthropological Institute in tlie exploration 

 of Caves in the Derbyshire District. 



During the current year the work at Creswell Crags has been steadily advanced by 

 Mr. Armstrong, a re-examination of Langwith Cave has been commenced by Miss 

 D. A. E. Garrod, and of Ravencliffe Cave by Mr. W. Storrs Fox. In addition an 

 important series of masked caves have been located in Lathkill Dale, apparently 

 containing Pleistocene levels, one of which has been examined by Major T. Harris. 

 Reports upon these excavations are as follows : — 



Creswell. 



Mr. Leslie Armstrong reports that during the current year work lias steadily 

 progressed in the Pin Hole Cave, and a further area of 24 superficial feet of the Mother 

 Grundy's Parlour rock shelter has been carefully examined. The latter has yielded 



