Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries. Although the article Why Geography Matters mainly focuses on Europe and the Middle East the issues also applies to the Regional Geography of the United States and Canada.
In the article, writer, Walter A. McDougall used an example of a student who had to learn geography in order to understand history. He also confirmed that American students were not even given a chance to learn much geography in their elementary and high school years and Statistics proved that the average adult could only identify a limited amount of countries on a map. According to McDougall, “geography is indispensible in a sound curriculum”. He states: “the major problem both for geographers and geographic educators and for all curriculum planners and teachers is to find ways to acknowledge and act on this reality. However, it can be rediscovered by teachers and textbook authors and among them, by first, “restoring an old fashioned emphasis on basic topography, place names and map reading. Second, history should be kept close to each other as history is best approached through history and vice versa. Third, it can be rediscovered if “history teachers and geographers convey to students how space and time have changed over the millennia as a function of human technology”. …show more content…
As stated: “ Whereas an ignorance of geography, foreign languages and cultures places the United States at a disadvantage with other countries in matters of business, politics and the
In the article, writer, Walter A. McDougall used an example of a student who had to learn geography in order to understand history. He also confirmed that American students were not even given a chance to learn much geography in their elementary and high school years and Statistics proved that the average adult could only identify a limited amount of countries on a map. According to McDougall, “geography is indispensible in a sound curriculum”. He states: “the major problem both for geographers and geographic educators and for all curriculum planners and teachers is to find ways to acknowledge and act on this reality. However, it can be rediscovered by teachers and textbook authors and among them, by first, “restoring an old fashioned emphasis on basic topography, place names and map reading. Second, history should be kept close to each other as history is best approached through history and vice versa. Third, it can be rediscovered if “history teachers and geographers convey to students how space and time have changed over the millennia as a function of human technology”. …show more content…
As stated: “ Whereas an ignorance of geography, foreign languages and cultures places the United States at a disadvantage with other countries in matters of business, politics and the