198 APPERCEPTION IN GEOGRAPHY 



Mississippi. Tlie map shows the sand bars, swamps, and lagoon at 

 the delta, Avhere the continental shelf is also apparent. Such a region 

 had been seen in miniature on the Coney Island beach. The cities of 

 Ravenna and Adria, indicated as small towns in the midst of swamps, 

 stimulate the pu})ils to deduce reasons for the scanty })opulation as 

 well as for the present location. The situations of towns on the banks 

 of the U[)i)er Po are contrasted with that of those of the lower Po 

 located a few miles from the river banks. Pictures showing dikes on 

 the lower river are presented and similar conditions on the Missis- 

 sippi are recalled. The malarial districts and rice-fields shown on the 

 map of Italy are facts upon which the ideas of climate, vegetation, and 

 occupation are based. The railroads are then located on the atlas 

 map and made to furni.sh data upon which are based the reasons for 

 the density of poi)ulation and the growth of towns and cities. The 

 })asses in the Alps, the oi)ening on the eastern frontier, and the geo- 

 graphical jtosition of Italy are all means by which are deduced facts 

 concerning the various invasions of Italy and the subsequent history 

 of the Italian peoi)le. The ))late of Races and Religions (ma]) 8) are 

 presented in this history work. 



Home Study. — B3' continually searching for facts the individual mind 

 is stimulated and })]easure is derived from the work. It is the only 

 method I have found to reach the individual in his home stud}'. 

 Each week papers of questions are presented to the pupils. The an- 

 swers are to l)e found in the maps and plates of the atlas. The ideas 

 thus gained by the ])ui)ils are used as the topic of the class recitation. 

 With pictures and wall majts the thought contained in the pupil's 

 notes is discussed before the reading lesson is attemi)ted. The pupil's 

 note l)ooks contain the original text that has been acquired b}^ means 

 of field and atlas work. 



Summary. — Briefly summarized, the work consists of: First, direct 

 observation of geographical subject-matter as it occurs in the neigh- 

 borhood of the school; second, class-room discussion of the observed 

 facts; third, written home lessons on (piestions based on the previous 

 work; fourth, oral and written reproduction; fifth, reproduction in 

 map form. 



And in conjunction therewith a similar sequence of lessons is based 

 upon the atlas and other maps, of physical features, temperature, 

 winds, rainfall, vegetation, productions, density of population, races, 

 and religions. Investigation, adapted to the capacity and develop)- 



