Discoverers and Explorers

<p>The practice of beginning the study of geography with the locality in which the pupil lives in order that his first ideas of geographical conceptions may be gained from observation directed upon the real conditions existing about him has been steadily gaining adherence during the past few years as a rational method of entering upon the study of geography.</p><p>After the pupil has finished an elementary study of the locality he is ready to pass to an elementary consideration of the world as a whole to get his first conception of the planet on which he lives. His knowledge of the forms of land and water his knowledge of rain and wind of heat and cold as agents and of the easily traced effects resulting from the interaction of these agents have been acquired by observation and inference upon conditions actually at hand; in other words his knowledge has been gained in a presentative manner.</p><p>His study of the world however must differ largely from this and must be effected principally by representation. The globe in relief therefore presents to him his basic idea and all his future study of the world will but expand and modify this idea until at length if the study is properly continued the idea becomes exceedingly complex.</p><p> </p>