A System Of Modern Geography Designed For The Use Of Schools And Academies

Author : Samuel Augustus Mitchell
Publisher : Forgotten Books
ISBN 13 : 9781330167489
Total Pages : 145 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (674 download)

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Download or read book A System of Modern Geography, Designed for the Use of Schools and Academies written by Samuel Augustus Mitchell and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2015-06-25 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from A System of Modern Geography, Designed for the Use of Schools and Academies In presenting to the educational world an entirely new work, to take a place in Mitchell's Geographical Series, a few words as to its plan and general scope should be offered: Care has been taken to make it what its name represents it to be, an intermediate geography, neither too learned for pupils who have already mastered the First Lessons and Primary, nor too juvenile for the higher classes, with whom Geography is always a very important branch. The general order observed in the work is as follows: 1. A lucid definition of the science of geography, and a logical division of it for the purposes of study. This part is arranged in a series of questions and answers. The geometrical diagrams have been much simplified. II. When the maps are reached, the arrangement is regular throughout the work; first the map, then, opposite, the questions on the map, and then the descriptive geography of the countries which are on that map; with marginal questions on the descriptive matter. III. The descriptive geography has been divided into several topics, which, when once observed, will give the student an aid to learning and a system for remembering what he learns. These are - 1. Position and Extent - It is obvious that he must know where and what the country is before he can begin to consider it. The position is given with reference to other countries; the extent is stated in square miles. 2. Natural Features - The next step is to find out its principal features; as surface, soil, climate, &c. 3. Products - He thus naturally comes to consider what those natural features will tend to produce. 4. Population - The next important inquiry is the character and number of those who inhabit the country before described. 5. Chief Towns - The residences of the people, selected on account of the natural features and productiveness of the country, are next considered: and finally, 6. Government and Religion - These important elements of the prosperity and happiness of a country are briefly mentioned. This philosophic plan, pursued throughout the work, will be found to facilitate very greatly the study of the pupil and the labors of the instructor. In a more advanced work the number of topics should be increased. Those mentioned were considered the proper limit for an Intermediate Geography. The population of the United States is taken from the census of 1880. The difficult foreign names are pronounced where they occur; and a pronouncing vocabulary is also placed at the end of the work. Much, in this respect, is left to the teacher, for vocal pronunciation from an experienced instructor is worth more to the pupil than any system of written pronunciation. In point of art and attractiveness, a casual glance will show that this work is a great advance on all former efforts. The maps, have been engraved on copper in the highest style of the art, from original drawings made expressly for this work. On each map of the Grand Divisions there has been placed an outline of the State of Pennsylvania (area 46,000 square miles), drawn on the same scale as the map on which it is placed, which will serve as a basis for comparison of areas; comparative latitudes are also given on most of the maps, with airline distances from shore to shore. The special treatment of Physical Geography (pages 103-114) will be found very complete and interesting, and a valuable addition to the work. The latest authorities have been diligently consulted. Books of travels; geographical publications, American and foreign; the maps and reports of the Coast Survey; - have afforded the newest and most varied information. The general questions upon each map will be found not only to be interesting to the pupil, but also to be of such a practical character as to fix in the mind those important prom...