The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900Various
Science
The Popular Science Monthly, June, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
works I have seen begin at the wrong end, and too often terminate in an
_ominum gatherum_ of scraps of all sorts of undigested and unconnected
information; thereby entirely destroying the educational value of that
study which Kant justly termed the ‘propædeutic of natural knowledge.’”
(Preface to ‘Physiography,’ 1878).
Here we find clear recognition of the need of introducing a
consideration of causes, just as was urged by Guyot; and furthermore a
recognition of the need of linking together in their natural relations
all the items which together constitute the content of the subject.
It may, however, be contended that the attempt to combine in a single
course of study the elementary principles of chemistry and physics,
of geology and astronomy, along with those of physical geography, is
not practicable from an educational point of view; such a combination
will not secure either the clear knowledge or the strong discipline
that can be derived from systematic courses in two or three of these
subjects, presented separately. Text-books like Hinman’s ‘Eclectic
Physical Geography’ and Mill’s ‘Realm of Nature,’ in both of which a
broad range of other than geographical subjects is covered, do not seem
to-day to be in so much favor as those books which attend more closely
to the true content of our subject. Indeed, with respect to physical
geography, considered from the scientific and educational point of
view, a report on College Entrance Requirements, recently published by
our National Educational Association,[D] presents the best definition
and outline of the subject that has yet appeared. It advises the
omission of irrelevant matter, however interesting such matter may be
in itself. The principles of physics and the succession of geological
formations with their fossils, the classification and distribution of
plants and animals must be taught elsewhere; but much profit may be
had from terrestrial phenomena by which the principles of physics are
illustrated, and from the consequences of past geological changes in
determining present geographical conditions, and especially from the
physiographic controls by which the distribution of organic forms is
determined.
[D] Proceedings, 1899, 780-792; also in the _Journal of School
Geography_, September, 1898.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account