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Geography a God-given Science

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 23.

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Geography a God-given Science

By Mrs. W. H. Sebastian

The importance of the study of geography in school has too long been underestimated. How can we lead the minds of the children to God other than through his handiwork? Thousands of children’s minds have been left in a state of hopeless and no less helpless confusion, because this beautiful study is taught in such a way that it appeals to their memory as only a list of unrelated, disconnected facts.
Parents should be the only teachers of their children until they have reached at least eight years of age, and the material for their instruction in geography is found under the children’s feet, over their heads, and in the air about them, and on every side of their path,—the fragrant flowers, the bright, sparkling waters, the birds darting by, green fields, lofty trees, passing clouds, and falling rain. The child should be asked to accept but little blindly, and his activity, instead of being suppressed, should be turned into channels of education.
“The little children should come especially close to nature. Instead of putting fashion’s shackles upon them, let them be free like lambs, to play in the sweet, fresh sunlight.
“Teach them to see the wisdom and love of God in his created works, and as their hearts swell with joy and grateful love, let them join the birds in their songs of praise.
“Educate the children and youth to consider the works of the great Master Artist, and to imitate the attractive graces of nature in their character.”—“Testimony on Education,” page 62.
Geographical facts are constantly changing; but the great principles of the science, the well-developed physical laws which underlie civilization and govern the world, remain ever the same, and these should be taught the children as the sure foundation on which to build all the work for all the years to come.
A good teacher is known by the amount of crayon he uses. In presenting a subject, if ever so rude a drawing can be made on the blackboard, it answers the purpose in conveying the thought to the child’s mind, and it is indelibly pictured there; to do this it is not necessary that one be an artist, still never begin by saying, “I can not draw a good picture;” for the child’s mind is alive to what you have taught it previous to the presentation of the drawing, and no matter how rude the sketch, it will appear a likeness of whatever you are endeavoring to illustrate.
Map work should hold a most important part in our geography work. The flat surface, to develop thought, must be made to glow with life and movement. The eye must look beyond the symbol, and see the thing symbolized. The pupils must develop the power of imagining great unseen forms, and should be allowed sometimes to give the picture as it exists in their minds, after it has been produced for them.
A vagueness of conception on the teacher’s part in regard to places to be represented will lead to a failure. In this you can not expect more of your pupils than you can do yourself. It is your bounden duty to know.
The science of geography is God-given. Its principles are so simple, so plain, and so practical that the little child can be charmed with their beauty; and yet its truths are so grand, so wonderful, and so unsearchable that the most mature mind finds in them depths of thought which can not be fathomed, and intricate problems which can not be solved. It is a study that elevates and ennobles the mind, and in the School of the Hereafter, “all the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages and ages spent in contemplation of God’s handiwork. And the years of eternity, as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations. Exceeding abundant above all that we ask and think will be forever and forever, the impartation of the gifts of God.”—“Education.”
Geography is an unfathomable science; we can not learn nor teach it completely in this life, but the teacher who co-operates with the divine purpose in imparting to the youth, through this science, a knowledge of God, does a work like unto the Saviour’s when here on earth; and his was a high and noble work.
“As the teacher awakens a desire to reach God’s ideal, he presents an education that can not be completed in this life, but that will be continued in the life to come,—an education that secures to the successful student his passport from the preparatory school of earth to the higher grade, the school above.”
MRS. W. H. SEBASTIAN.