Abstract
IN the just-published number of the Royal Geographical Society's Proceedings we find some useful remarks by Mr. F. Gallon, on what has recently been done, and what is further required for the advancement of geographical teaching. First and foremost, he says, is the publication of that excellent book by Prof. Huxley, “Physiography,” which, starting from the simplest elements, led students steadily on to the higher conception of physical geography and the most recent discoveries in it. Next, Sir Walter Trevelyan, a former Secretary of the Society, had felt so much the necessity of a better form of text-book for geographical teaching that he had placed a handsome sum at the disposal of the Council to procure, if they were able to do so, the compilation of a really good county geography, to serve as an example for other similar works to be used in elementary schools. Turning to what is required in the future, Mr. Gallon mentions that they have received a letter from a master of one of the great public schools, urging them to plan a system of diagrams explanatory of different physical features. His own opinion, Mr. Gallon says, is that what is most urgently needed is some simple and well-methodised system of experiments, suited to illustrate lectures on the main features of physical geography. He has no doubt that an extension of the methods of illustrating the facts of physical geography—as used by Prof. Tyndall and Dr. Carpenter—on a small scale and on a lecture-room table, is perfectly feasible. Thus, as every thunder-shower shows in the streets the phenomena of erosion and deposition, he has no doubt that, on a lecture-table, with a can to supply water, and with a certain quantity of sand, gravel, and clay, all the main phenomena of river-action, such as the sifting of materials, the stratification of deposits, and the formation of deltas, might be successfully shown.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES . Nature 18, 337–338 (1878). https://doi.org/10.1038/018337a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/018337a0