e Do. of oaks. a Highest flight of a balloon. b The highest spot visited by man. c Highest now inhabited, Antisana. d Highest limit of pines at the Equator. fSt. Peter's chur ch at Rome. The Highlands are in New York. in Massachusetts. Monadnock in New Hampshire. Mt. Holycre ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by POTTER & WILSON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York. Stereotyped by Francis F. Ripley. PREFACE. THE author has endeavoured to imbody in the following work, the results of many years' observation of the comparative advantages of the different methods of teaching geography. It will be found to differ considerably, both in its plan and execution, from the several geographical works at present used in American schools. For the purpose of ascertaining whether his ideas in reference to these matters, were likely to meet the views of others, the author has submitted his manuscript to a number of teachers in different parts of the state, who stand deservedly high for their qualifications, and for their eminent success as instructors, and it has afforded him much satisfaction to find that their experience has brought them to conclusions uniformly corresponding with his own, and that they all cordially approve of both the plan and execution of his work. Being of opinion that nearly all the geographies used in our schools embrace some topics which had better be omitted, and that they are generally too diffuse, especially for the ordinary common schools of our country, the author has studiously aimed to make his descriptions very concise, to embrace in them nothing which he did not suppose could be profitably committed to memory, to embody them in short sentences, and in language plain, but not puerile. He has adopted the plan of describing, in succession, each of the several countries embraced in one of the general divisions of the world, and then in a review, to call to the notice of the pupil, in a series of questions promiscuously arranged, every place named, and every fact stated in the course of those descriptions. This plan is pursued with each general division of the world, until the learner has mastered them all. The concluding exercise is a general review, in which all the descriptions, and every fact stated in the work, are recalled to the notice of the learner, in a series of questions arranged without reference to the order in which such descriptions and facts have been given. Thus it will be perceived that every particular embraced in his lessons, is thrice brought distinctly under the notice of the pupil-first, in describing the particular country, next in the review of the general division to which such country belongs, and finally, in the general review of the entire work. With such abundant facilities in their hands, if our schools do not readily acquire a thorough knowledge of the outlines of geography, it can only be imputed to a want of competency in the teachers, or of diligence on the part of the learners. The author has so arranged his work as to render it necessary for the learners, from the very commencement, to get all their lessons-on their maps-a course which long experience has satisfied him is both most pleasant and most profitable for them. It is believed that the plan of the work is so perspicuous, and the questions so framed, as to enable pupils to get their lessons, not only without any assistance, but without the least embarrassment or difficulty. Care has been taken to have the maps neat and plain, and to have the execution of the book equal, in all respects, to any similar work in the market. It has not been deemed expedient to sprinkle this book with pictures, from a conviction that they serve to divert the attention of the pupil from his studies, rather than to inform his mind or improve his taste. |