EMPIRE GEOGRAPHY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 115, 11 April 1930, Page 4

EMPIRE GEOGRAPHY.

CHILDREN’S HAZY IDEAS. A committee composed of the Board of Education inspectors in Britain has issued an interesting report, following on complaints that there was widespread ignorance of dominion and colonial geography in British schools. The report states: “India is the best known member of the Empire as far as school children are concerned. Then come Canada and Australia, but there is comparative ignorance regarding Africa.’’

, The report emphasises the want of precision in a great deal of knowledge. “Thus, many children are unable to give the approximate time taken to reach the dominions, or give any real idea of the size and population of the. most important parts of the Empire. Immense countries like' Australia .are referred to ae if. the climatic and occupational conditions were. uniform throughout the country. A clear study if the geography of the Empire is not .leglected, and no widespread ignormce, such as was alleged, exists.' It uust be remembered that the children 'iave only a limited' time, and too mich must not be expected of the verage child or the average teacher.” Regret is expressed that there are rill some schools where no reference ooks are available for teachers and Ider children, and the report proposes hat more use should be made of and geographical pictures.