Robert Steel and the IBG

I've previously mentioned Robert Steel's involvement with the Institute of British Geographers.

While exploring some of the RGS' archive last week, I came across this copy of his book on 'the first fifty years' of the IBG. Sadly there was no time to  pick it up and take a look.

Image: Alan Parkinson, shared on Flickr under CC license

Oskar Spate

Oskar Spate is a name that has been mentioned a few times in the documents that I read through while writing my history of the GA alongside the biographies of the Presidents.

A Wikipedia entry here explains a little of his connections with Geography.

I also came across a more recently published biography on his connections, and discovered he was another geographer who came through St. Catharine's College, Cambridge.

Black History Month - a special podcast

GeogPod #83 is in support of Black History Month

In a special episode to celebrate Black History Month we join Professor Pat Noxolo from the University of Birmingham, Professor James Esson from Queen Mary University of London and Francisca Rockey, founding member of Black Geographers.

They discuss the intersections between race, gender and class that affect young people today. Topics include how to navigate complex ideas in a complex world, the importance of recognising different narratives, and the possibilities for change, revealed by the amazing work done by geography teachers.

Anti-racist work has been a means of support, comradeship and helping keep hold of talented people. Here are a few of the groups and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Black Geographers
• Salaam Geographia
• Geography Workshop
• Race, Culture and Equality Working Group
• American Association of Geographer
• Black Geographies
• Decolonising geography website & X (formerly Twitter)
• FI WI ROAD
• Black History Month

Post-colonial geographies

 Download the document here (PDF link)

This document references the work of Robert Ogilvie Buchanan and Robert Steel: two former GA Presidents.

They were involved in developing universities across the Commonwealth through the 1950s and 60s.

R.O. Buchanan was born in New Zealand and came to Britain in 1925 to study at the LSE, where he was later chair of geography. Buchanan was one of the founders of the Institute of British Geographers and, like Steel, served on several committees throughout his career including the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Geographical Association and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. These connections, combined with the hierarchical and informal processes of academic appointments across Britain and the wider colonial world, put both in pivotal positions for hiring decisions in Nigeria and for geographers seeking to (re)join UK academia.  

Steel regularly received requests for suggestions for appointments from contacts working in African universities.Many of those at Ibadan were appointed on recommendation: he was referee for Terry Coppock, visiting scholar at Ibadan 1964-1965, and advised Dick Hodder (lecturer at Ibadan 1956-1962) on how to make the necessary connections to apply. He was on the selection panel for the chair of geography and head of department role, appointing Michael Barbour to the position in 1962. Steel’s archives abound with informal letters reflecting the continuing value of ‘writing to friends’ in the appointments process across the former colonies in Africa, South East Asia and the Caribbean until the 1960s.

Source: Craggs, R., & Neate, H. (2019). Post-colonial careering and the discipline of geography: British geographers in Nigeria and the UK, 1945-1990. JOURNAL OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY, 66, 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhg.2018.05.014

It was interesting to see that Buchanan was referenced....

Buchanan was a colourful character who refused to conform to the expectations of senior university administrators. According to his colleague Pugh, Buchanan ‘had a wide range of acquaintances in Ibadan Town … and never hesitated if he saw a party of drummers heading somewhere – he would follow …’. He would wear shirts ‘made from cloth from the local market with a pattern of rosebuds or Crown birds’. His lectures touched on issues of colonialism and development, and showed signs of the more radical critiques of his later scholarship. Eventually the UCI principal deemed that Buchanan’s clothing showed he was inappropriate for the job, leading to his departure in 1951 for LSE, then what was to become the University of Wellington in New Zealand.

An overview of recent consultations

Part of the GA's work is to advocate for geography with Government. The forthcoming Curriculum Review is one such occasion.

This is an overview from the 400+ responses that the GA received. Thanks to all those who took the time to get in touch.

You can read more here.

The RGS is holding its own consultation currently.

Feel free to join in with this one too please.

Your chance to be GA President

 Each year, there is a chance to put yourself forward for the GA Presidency.  The next one is 2026-27.

You have until the 1st of November to put yourself forward along with your supporting statements.

The full details are, or will be on the GA website.

Welcome to Daryl and Katie

One of the GA's great contributions to the geography teaching community is the journals that are published three times a year. 

The Autumn 2024 issues are appearing and will be on their way to subscribers shortly.

I’m very happy to share that I have joined the Editorial Board for Teaching Geography @The_GA !

A big thank you to Christine Winter for encouraging my application and @RichardBustin and the editorial team for accepting me.

To submit an article: https://t.co/rPOrZnruLZ pic.twitter.com/jlWZbJWKuL

— DSinclairTeaches (@dsinclair17) September 26, 2024

Also joining is Katie Richardson, Head of Geography at Weald of Kent Grammar School. 

Many thanks to Justin Woolliscroft for his many years of services on the board. A great colleague and geographer... 

Conference 2015 poster

This is always a great time. I remember when I saw the poster for my Presidential conference for the first time, so Hina will have been excited to see this...

Important GA Conference news - a change of date

From today's GA Newsletter - make sure you are signed up to receive it...

New(ish) GA resource on Sycamore Gap

A new(ish) resource which can be accessed and used by members of the Geographical Association. I am considering adding a section of this to my teaching this year.

Sycamore Gap is a significant landmark in Northumberland where three distinct features combined: a natural and dramatic dip in the physical landscape about halfway along the 80-mile run of Hadrian’s Wall, itself an ancient monument and reminder of the power of the Roman Empire, and until recently, a lone, 300-year-old Sycamore tree. The site has UNESCO designation and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Arguably, it will still be known as Sycamore Gap because of its story.

The tree has stood for hundreds of years, perfectly framed by the landscape, thrilling locals and visitors alike until it was deliberately cut down, under cover of darkness, sometime between the evening of 27 September 2023 and the following morning. 

The loss of the tree has caused an outcry and reaction of public grief.

These materials are designed to help children think about some of the issues this story raises. What do they know about Sycamore Gap? Where is it? Have they been there? Why and how do certain landmarks hold such meaning? What is the cultural impact of this and other significant landmarks on our lives? Whose place is this? Who decides what happens here?

While these materials provide a relevant and current context for developing geographical substantive, disciplinary and procedural knowledge, they also model how you might investigate other landmarks with particular significance to your own local community and landscape and the emotions they engender in people.

Complete Materials:PowerPoint
Teachers Notes
Photo Activity
Individual Resource Pages:

Sycamore Gap 1: What’s the geography story?
Sycamore Gap 2: What can images and maps tell us about landmarks?
Sycamore Gap 3: Why can we see so many stars?
Sycamore Gap 4: Changing views
Sycamore Gap 5: How do we feel about it?
Sycamore Gap 6: A Gap in the landscape
Sycamore Gap 7: Why should we value trees?
Sycamore Gap 8: What would be your ‘tree of the year’?
Sycamore Gap 9: Change
Sycamore Gap 10: How do we fill the Gap?


Thanks to Steve Rawlinson, Tessa Willy, Sharon Witt and Margaret Mackintosh for feedback, edits and ideas.

2024: Hina Robinson

For the third year out of the last four, the GA President will be a teacher, and a female state-school teacher for the second year in a row.

Hina Robinson is the new GA President for 2024-25

I sent Hina the questions that I had given to all other Presidents and used them to create the post below. I'm grateful to Hina for the level of detail she provided and taking the time to help create this entry on the blog.

When and where were you born? 

I was born in Edgware, North London in 1977. My parents were immigrants, having moved from Kenya the year before. So I always say my ethnic background is East African Asian.

The principle of my religion – Jainism – make for a passion in geography – we strongly believe in looking after the Earth and all that is on it. 

Where did you go to school / university?

Primary school was Deansbrook Infant and Juniors. 

My first memory of geography was actually being made to feel stupid – the first time I saw the British Isles on a globe and commenting that it was a bit small – my year 4 teacher was clearly not impressed!

The year six school journey to the Lake District started to get me thinking about landforms – the first time I had been to a National Park. Parents who are first generation immigrants spend a lot of time at work and so I had only been to local country parks before. 

Secondary school was Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb – regularly topping league tables! 

The school was very fortunate to have its own field centre in Dorset which everyone went to for a week in years 8, 9 and 10. On my first visit there we did some orientation with OS maps. One of the teachers commented that I must do that a lot as I was so good with maps – but it was my first time map reading! 

I was incredibly lucky to experience these field trips – influencing my attitude to field work. The teacher that inspired me to want to take geography further was Mrs McIsaac Hall. 

Looking back it was her passion for the subject that came across in lessons to make them so good. 

My A levels were Geography, Economics and Politics. 

An Iceland trip in year 13 fuelled my interest, and work experience in a secondary school geography department in year 12 made my career path clear!

I went to my insurance university – Salford and changed my degree choice to joint honours Geography and Economics. 

I’m still not sure this was the right decision as some of the economics which involved maths was particularly tough, however the link between the two subjects is so important and I was able to study units such as environmental economics. I loved cultural geography and environmental units alike. 

I went the PGCE route at Brunel University and was lucky enough to have Bob Digby and Graham Yates as my course tutors. 

What has your career been to date?

My first job was at the Eastwood School in Leigh on Sea. In my first year there I was teaching four different subjects. I stayed two years before moving to The King John School where I stayed for 20 years! In my time there I had various roles including Head of Geography. 

After returning from maternity leave this was not a role I could keep as I went part-time. However I was Rights Respecting Schools lead and eventually picked up key stage 4 Geography lead. 

Some of my colleagues were integral to my understanding and love of geography – Alan Greenway and Anna Edwards in particular. 

My move to my current school (Southend High School for Girls) saw me lose my responsibility point in geography (my choice!). However I joined a department with a clear passion for geography and I could not be happier in my role. 

Other roles I have undertaken in school link in with geography well, which is probably why I am passionate about them. 

Currently I am Rights Respecting Schools lead and Diversity lead. Both of these roles have a grounding in human geography and the desire to ensure that all have equal opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic or where they live. 

Wider than teaching, I became interested in doing more within the subject community in 2020 during the first Covid lockdown. Decolonising geography and also making it a more inclusive subject which appealed to all became passions of mine. This started through Twitter and getting to know other geographers remotely. My first taste of presenting was a Geogchat Teachmeet, thanks to Rachael Robinson who invited me to speak as part of her slot. Emma Rawlings Smith then invited me to write part of an article for Teaching Geography. I have presented a few times since online for various groups – GeReCo amongst others. I have also edited an 'A' level Revision Guide's 2nd edition and have given some awarding bodies some EDI guidance.

What is your Presidential theme, and why did you pick it? 

My theme is Connected Geographies. 

Geography is what explains how the world works – on a physical level but also how people have developed the world. Learning about our interconnectedness is key to sustainability and equity. Geography connects different subjects together – it is difficult to find another area of education that does not have some geographical element! To develop our students into global citizens who take care of their environment they need to understand how the world is interconnected. This is so important in tackling the misconceptions that cause so many issues across the world. 

Why does the GA matter to you? 

I have been a member of the GA for 26 years – ever since Bob Digby strongly advised membership during PGCE. 

I have read all the magazines and Teaching Geography since then! It was in 2021 when a member Trustee position came up that I first thought about doing more. Susan Pike was the person who encouraged me to do this! 

I attended my first conference online in 2021 and have presented at each one since. 

It was in 2022 when Emma Rawlings Smith suggested that I should think about the President's role, followed by Bob Digby. I had never even considered this was something I could do! I have tried to develop EDI within the GA.

The GA is integral to the education community – it is vital to have a body that can represent our subject at all levels and can provide support to all educators of geography – whatever stage they teach and whatever their experience.

I have learnt so much from Denise Freeman over the past year – she has been an inspiration in her passion for the role and I hope I can do it the same justice!

You can follow Hina on @RobboGeog

Images copyright: Hina Robinson / Geographical Association / Shaun Flannery

Belloc and the Pyrenees

While in the excellent second hand bookshop at Blickling Hall in Norfolk earlier I spotted this book in the Vintage section.

It was written by Hilaire Belloc. Belloc was the GA President in 1915 - quite a while back. You can read his entry by searching the blog.

It's a chunky book all about the Pyrenees which helps with Belloc's credentials. It was published in 1923.

Thanks to Denise

Today is the last day of Denise Freeman's Presidency.

Today is the last day of @geography_DAF's presidency of the @The_GA. For the last 12 months she has tirelessly promoted her message of 'Geography for Everyone' visiting all four nations and engaging with every phase of Geography education. A brilliant President: Thank You Denise! pic.twitter.com/wWlcuRWEJl

— Alastair Owens (@AlastairHackney) August 31, 2024

That means there will be a new President added to this blog tomorrow! Watch out for the new post...

It also means an additional new role for Denise, to take a little pressure off Alastair Owens.

We've worked closely together over the past year and I am really pleased that Denise not only continues as 'Immediate Past President', bur it also taking on the role of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees from tomorrow.

Big day tomorrow for @RobboGeog and @GeogMum...

— Alastair Owens (@AlastairHackney) August 31, 2024

IGU - 1964 - London

While exploring something else, I was reminded of the IGU meeting in London in 1964. I've blogged about this before, as I got a copy of the stamp set which was released at the time as a First Day Cover. (PDF download)

I also have a copy of the booklet which was used for field excursions in London during the event. It has some interesting details to this date. Would be interesting to follow the route of one or two and see how much it has changed in the intervening 60 years.

The RGS was involved in hosting the event, and one can imagine the delegates entering the building from Kensington Gore, and then heading along the road to the Royal Albert Hall.

I'm going to see if I can find details of this event.

There was also a dinner at Regent's Park Zoo.

Source:

https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/files/263517541/Clayton_2019_AAAG_geography_sempire_AAM.pdf

Wilma Fairchild's piece in the RGS journal:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/212857

“The Record.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 129, no. 2, 1963, pp. 242–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1792705. Accessed 18 July 2024.

Decolonising geography - early days

While looking for something else I came across Daniel Clayton's paper from the University of St. Andrews.

In it he talks about the emergence of decolonising and the early proponents of looking back at the nature of Empire, with Felix Driver's work being mentioned prominently.

In the aftermath of World War II, two British geographers, Sidney Wooldridge and Ronald Harrison Church, implored colleagues to take the study of colonial geography more seriously.  Wooldridge (1947, 202) ventured that “it appears to me to throw a strong light on the position of Geography in this country that we are so calamitously and shamefully ignorant of our Colonial Empire”.  And Harrison Church (1951, 116-17) sought to make amends with a primer entitled Modern Colonization, noting that Africa was “ripe for rearrangement” (albeit colonial reform more than independence).  

As Britain’s sprawling empire shrank, the type of geographical study and imagery associated with it became less acceptable and feasible, and Alastair Bonnett (2003) asserts that geography soon abandoned its bequest as a “world discipline” and geographers sought to make their discipline ‘useful’ again by focusing on pressing domestic problems.  Yet geography was not taught at many of the new universities established across the United Kingdom in the post-war decades, in part because politicians continued to view the subject as having “a somewhat ‘dated’ look about it”, as Ron Johnston (2003, 69) puts it. 

 Indeed, the ‘conquest’ of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in June 1953, coinciding with the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, was arguably the crowning glory of 1950s British geography and points to the post-war extension rather than liquidation of geography’s empire.  

The RGS was a proud sponsor of the Everest Expedition, and through to the 1970s its learned organ, The Geographical Journal, kept a populist foot in the imperial past by publishing excerpts “from the journal a hundred years ago”, most of which were manly tales of expeditionary derring-do.   

Source: (PDF link) to read the whole paper.

https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/files/263517541/Clayton_2019_AAAG_geography_sempire_AAM.pdf