Thursday 31 October 2019
Wednesday 30 October 2019
1947: Sir Alexander Morris Carr-Saunders
Last updated November 2023Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders was another Economist and served as the former Head of the LSE. He is also described as a Sociologist and academic administrator. A building at LSE is named after him.
It is not surprising to see some connections between the LSE and the GA given their long-term hosting of the GA conferences, even into the 1970s.
He was born in Reigate in 1886 - the son of an underwriter - and was educated at Eton College. A few GA Presidents had that connection.
A British Academy biography describes the bullying he endured at Eton, which he described as "a convict ship"
He said he could learn nothing during term time, and left the school at 16, when he visited Paris and the Alps, and fell in love with the mountains there.
Perhaps this was the start of his love for Geography, along with mountaineering.
Carr-Saunders went to the University of Oxford, studing zoology initially.
He served in France and Egypt during the First World War as well - one of a generation of GA Presidents around the first half of the century to have experienced conflict and had their world view shaped by this.
On his return, he studied once again at Oxford, and during this time, he developed some ideas around Eugenics.
He was offered a Professorship in Social Science at the University of Liverpool, which allowed him to develop his thinking.
In 1943 he joined the Asquith Commission on Higher Education in the Colonies, and travelled widely during this time, having never previously travelled much at all.
He helped set up a lot of work in Colonial Universities through the next few decades and this is where his contribution to Geographical education began to flourish, and perhaps his potential as a GA President to unfold.
From his Wikipedia extract: shared under CC license
He participated in one of the first Oxford Expeditions to Spitsbergen in the Arctic in 1921 as main scientists, together with Julian Huxley.
During the expedition he distilled his early ideas on population dynamics and summarized them in a book called The Population Problem. The book used a neo-Malthusian argument plus Galton's eugenics as the theoretical framework for a quantitative analysis of population dynamics.
If anyone has further information on Carr-Saunders, please get in touch.
Updated January - August 2021
There are remarkably few early videos or audio of GA Presidents on YouTube since some very early ones you may remember.
Here's an extract from a radio programme where he described his strong faith in God.
Thanks to Brendan Conway for this additional information on a link to the modern day LSE.
It is not surprising to see some connections between the LSE and the GA given their long-term hosting of the GA conferences, even into the 1970s.
He was born in Reigate in 1886 - the son of an underwriter - and was educated at Eton College. A few GA Presidents had that connection.
A British Academy biography describes the bullying he endured at Eton, which he described as "a convict ship"
He said he could learn nothing during term time, and left the school at 16, when he visited Paris and the Alps, and fell in love with the mountains there.
Perhaps this was the start of his love for Geography, along with mountaineering.
Carr-Saunders went to the University of Oxford, studing zoology initially.
He served in France and Egypt during the First World War as well - one of a generation of GA Presidents around the first half of the century to have experienced conflict and had their world view shaped by this.
On his return, he studied once again at Oxford, and during this time, he developed some ideas around Eugenics.
He was offered a Professorship in Social Science at the University of Liverpool, which allowed him to develop his thinking.
In 1943 he joined the Asquith Commission on Higher Education in the Colonies, and travelled widely during this time, having never previously travelled much at all.
He helped set up a lot of work in Colonial Universities through the next few decades and this is where his contribution to Geographical education began to flourish, and perhaps his potential as a GA President to unfold.
From his Wikipedia extract: shared under CC license
He participated in one of the first Oxford Expeditions to Spitsbergen in the Arctic in 1921 as main scientists, together with Julian Huxley.
During the expedition he distilled his early ideas on population dynamics and summarized them in a book called The Population Problem. The book used a neo-Malthusian argument plus Galton's eugenics as the theoretical framework for a quantitative analysis of population dynamics.
The population problem arose - according to Carr-Saunders' demographic analysis - from the fact of having high reproductive rates among what were described as "primitive people with low mental and physical qualities". Over-population of these lower races endangered the standard of living of races bearing higher qualities. Unlike Malthus, he thought that industrial productivity and not food was the main limiting factor in human populations.
Some of the views were of course of their time. Hans Rosling may have had a few alternative thoughts.
In 1921, as mentioned above he went to Spitsbergen on an expedition - one of several GA Presidents to have visited this place - perhaps I need to plan a visit during my Presidency.
Is there a GA Branch in Longyearbyen?
Carr-Saunders served as Director of the LSE from 1937 to 1957.
His early publications used demographic data in a way that hadn't been done before.
He was knighted in 1946/7, around the time he served as GA President.
Some of the views were of course of their time. Hans Rosling may have had a few alternative thoughts.
In 1921, as mentioned above he went to Spitsbergen on an expedition - one of several GA Presidents to have visited this place - perhaps I need to plan a visit during my Presidency.
Is there a GA Branch in Longyearbyen?
Carr-Saunders served as Director of the LSE from 1937 to 1957.
His early publications used demographic data in a way that hadn't been done before.
He was knighted in 1946/7, around the time he served as GA President.
His Presidential lecture was on the theme of the teaching of Geography in Colonial Colleges, and started with him explaining how he was not a geographer - an unusual opening gambit for a President, although not unprecedented...
The address was published in 1948.
He founded the British Sociological Society in 1951.
This image from the LSE library was taken in Cumbria in 1964, to which Carr Saunders retired.
He is pictured with his wife Teresa in the middle, and Julian Huxley on the left.
He died in 1966 in Cumbria.
One obituary gives the actual circumstances which sound characteristic of him from what I have read...
He died on the night of 6 October 1966 after trying, at the age of eighty, to push his car uphill following a breakdown at Thirlmere in his beloved Lake District.
Here's a description of him from Professor Maurice Freedman:
Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/030639686700800306?journalCode=raca
His GA obituary was written by fellow and former GA President Michael Wise.
He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Glasgow, Columbia, Natal, Dublin, Liverpool, Cambridge, Malaya, Grenoble and London, and was made honorary fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, the University College of East Africa, and LSE.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Carr-Saunders
I added reference to his GA Presidency to the Wikipedia page, as I have with all those who have Wikipedia pages.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Carr-Saunders - this describes him as a demographer ,and focusses on his work in the area of population - he also influenced Charles Elton, a biologist https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Elton#ref5660
Obituary: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.1967.10409969?journalCode=rpst20
Presidential Address
Carr-Saunders, Alexander. “THE TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY IN COLONIAL COLLEGES: ADDRESS TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION.” Geography, vol. 33, no. 1, 1948, pp. 1–7. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562655.
Obituary: Wise, M. J. “Obituary: SIR ALEXANDER CARR-SAUNDERS.” Geography, vol. 52, no. 1, 1967, pp. 81–81. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566219.
Carr-Saunders as one of the original 'sociologists': https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2008.00805.x?journalCode=sora
https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100443150
Image: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw100157/Sir-Alexander-Morris-Carr-Saunders
Some further images of him: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp72409/sir-alexander-morris-carr-saunders
Images from Flickr library of LSE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lselibrary/with/3926497416/
CC licensed.
Biography from the British Academy: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/pubs/proc/files/53p379.pdf
His most famous book is still available to purchase from all good bookshops. It can also be accessed via the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/populationproblem00carr
The address was published in 1948.
He founded the British Sociological Society in 1951.
This image from the LSE library was taken in Cumbria in 1964, to which Carr Saunders retired.
He is pictured with his wife Teresa in the middle, and Julian Huxley on the left.
He died in 1966 in Cumbria.
One obituary gives the actual circumstances which sound characteristic of him from what I have read...
He died on the night of 6 October 1966 after trying, at the age of eighty, to push his car uphill following a breakdown at Thirlmere in his beloved Lake District.
Here's a description of him from Professor Maurice Freedman:
Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/030639686700800306?journalCode=raca
His GA obituary was written by fellow and former GA President Michael Wise.
He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Glasgow, Columbia, Natal, Dublin, Liverpool, Cambridge, Malaya, Grenoble and London, and was made honorary fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, the University College of East Africa, and LSE.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Carr-Saunders
I added reference to his GA Presidency to the Wikipedia page, as I have with all those who have Wikipedia pages.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Carr-Saunders - this describes him as a demographer ,and focusses on his work in the area of population - he also influenced Charles Elton, a biologist https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Elton#ref5660
Obituary: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00324728.1967.10409969?journalCode=rpst20
Presidential Address
Carr-Saunders, Alexander. “THE TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY IN COLONIAL COLLEGES: ADDRESS TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION.” Geography, vol. 33, no. 1, 1948, pp. 1–7. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562655.
Obituary: Wise, M. J. “Obituary: SIR ALEXANDER CARR-SAUNDERS.” Geography, vol. 52, no. 1, 1967, pp. 81–81. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566219.
Carr-Saunders as one of the original 'sociologists': https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2008.00805.x?journalCode=sora
https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100443150
Image: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw100157/Sir-Alexander-Morris-Carr-Saunders
Some further images of him: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp72409/sir-alexander-morris-carr-saunders
Images from Flickr library of LSE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lselibrary/with/3926497416/
CC licensed.
Biography from the British Academy: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/pubs/proc/files/53p379.pdf
His most famous book is still available to purchase from all good bookshops. It can also be accessed via the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/populationproblem00carr
If anyone has further information on Carr-Saunders, please get in touch.
Updated January - August 2021
There are remarkably few early videos or audio of GA Presidents on YouTube since some very early ones you may remember.
Here's an extract from a radio programme where he described his strong faith in God.
Thanks to Brendan Conway for this additional information on a link to the modern day LSE.
One of the main @LSEnews halls of residence is named after him:— BC (@mildthing99) October 30, 2019
Carr-Saunders Hall https://t.co/6b5VCXwuf5
National Portrait Gallery:
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw88743/Sir-Alexander-Morris-Carr-Saunders
Carr-Saunders Hall - a dining space for 160 students
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2017/09/05/carr-saunders-hall-living-in-bloomsbury/
Carr-Saunders served as Director of LSE from 1937-1957 and had arranged the School’s evacuation to Cambridge prior to the outbreak of war, ensuring that the School was in touch with its London base and could continue teaching across all of its subject areas.A mention in the Alpine Journal (PDF download)
On his personality:
The piece also outlines his impressive mountaineering achievements and plenty of anecdotes about his experiences, including ascents of Mont Blanc and lots of the nearby peaks.
I like this quote on how the scenery 'attracted and occupied his keen and sensitive mind'.
Updated August 2023
He contributed a chapter to this book, from the Wellcome collection, and stamped as being in the Eugenics Society library.
First published in 1935
Updated November 2023
On the opening of Carr Saunders Hall - with the menu that was served
He worked in Eugenics...
Details of his Galton Medal Award in 1946, from the Eugenics Society.
Tuesday 29 October 2019
Fleure Library
Over the years, the GA has accumulated a huge wealth of printed material, and what remains of this is currently held at Solly Street, the GA HQ in Sheffield.There is also a large Primary-focussed collection owned by Simon Catling, some of which is also held at the GA's HQ in a special room.
A great deal of this was initially collected and curated by H. J. Fleure, who is pictured opposite.
He looked after all donated books to the Association - some of which were sent in for review in the journals, and others from teachers who wanted to leave something tangible in the Association's archive.
Fleure was a former President, who has his own entry on the blog shortly.
He managed to find a number of premises for the library in Aberystwyth, where it stayed for many years. Fleure was the GA's Honorary Secretary at the time. It then moved to Manchester where, as I have previously mentioned, it was saved from a fire by a fast acting caretaker.
The library was housed in the Sheffield University library for many decades after it was moved from Fulwood Road in 1983 following a decision approved by the GA Council at the time. I remember visiting it there as an undergraduate.
The collection is now housed at the GA HQ in Solly Street, and several glass display cases featuring items from the library are in the Patrick Bailey room (a former GA President who will also have his own post on the blog)
For the 125th Anniversary conference, I was asked to curate a selection of items from this collection, and was aided by Ricky Buck, who retrieved the items that I suggested might tell a story of the Association, and together I chose about 100 items and provided captions for the exhibition, along with a Primary section.
One of the things that I have available to add to this collection is a set of journals called 'Classroom Geographer, which was published by Hugh Sealey. More on this in a later blog post, as the journal saw the first published work by several GA Presidents who will get their entries in time.
I have a spreadsheet containing details of all the 10 000 items which were in the collection at the time, and there is an impressive range of books and other materials there.
Monday 28 October 2019
Hill Top and Hazelwood Schools
I came across a reference to what sounds like an interesting volume for geography researchers into the early days of geography teaching.
Birmingham Library apparently has a copy. I may need to pay a visit.
Does anyone have further information on Hill Top or Hazelwood Schools?
Reference
Wise, Michael J. “AN EARLY 19th CENTURY EXPERIMENT IN THE TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY: A Note on the Teaching of Geography at Hill Top and Hazelwood Schools, 1815-1825.” Geography, vol. 33, no. 1, 1948, pp. 17–21. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562659.
Birmingham Library apparently has a copy. I may need to pay a visit.
Does anyone have further information on Hill Top or Hazelwood Schools?
Reference
Wise, Michael J. “AN EARLY 19th CENTURY EXPERIMENT IN THE TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY: A Note on the Teaching of Geography at Hill Top and Hazelwood Schools, 1815-1825.” Geography, vol. 33, no. 1, 1948, pp. 17–21. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562659.
Friday 25 October 2019
1947: Moving to Sheffield
PARK LIBRARY, SHEFFIELD: 1947 - 64
Post-war developments forced the GA to relinquish its accommodation in Manchester as the area was redeveloped.
Dr. Alice Garnett (the Honorary Secretary at the time) and Professor David Linton (Honorary Editor) were both based in Sheffield, so a move there was agreed, and made possible by the Sheffield City Librarian’s generous offer of free office and library space at Park Library, Duke Street.
This is another on the list of places to visit during my time as President.
In October 1950, the GA’s new offices were officially opened.
Image: Google Earth - copyright is held by the various image providers, and image used under Fair Use.
Post-war developments forced the GA to relinquish its accommodation in Manchester as the area was redeveloped.
Dr. Alice Garnett (the Honorary Secretary at the time) and Professor David Linton (Honorary Editor) were both based in Sheffield, so a move there was agreed, and made possible by the Sheffield City Librarian’s generous offer of free office and library space at Park Library, Duke Street.
This is another on the list of places to visit during my time as President.
In October 1950, the GA’s new offices were officially opened.
Image: Google Earth - copyright is held by the various image providers, and image used under Fair Use.
Thursday 24 October 2019
1946: Sir Cyril Norwood
Following the Second World War, the Presidency returned to a one year tenure, and has stayed that way since. The first post-war President was Sir Cyril Norwood.
The career of Sir Cyril Norwood, who took on the role in the immediate Post War period, is tied up with that of Clement Cyril Carter, who was President at the outbreak of the Second World War and held the post for several years. It must have been a great delight to Carter to be followed a few years later by someone who had no doubt nurtured him and supported him in his own teaching.
It is also the story of someone who influenced the education of generations of schoolchildren, as well as giving a lifetime of service as a teacher, Headteacher and leadership of the HMC, which continues to this day.
Norwood was the son of a Reverend and educated at Merchant Taylor's School, and the University of Oxford.
He was a classics schoolmaster at Leeds Grammar School (1901–1906), before serving as Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School (1906–1916), Master of Marlborough College (1917–1925), Headmaster of Harrow (1926–1934) and President of St John's, Oxford, from 1934-1946.
That's quite a list of schools to have been linked with, and an Oxford college to conclude his career.
Cyril Norwood was Master at Marlborough College, and this is where C C Carter taught at the same time.
There is a Norwood Hall at Marlborough College named after him. I may even try and get to see it as part of my Presidential year travels.
Norwood was knighted in 1938 for services to education.
He had a major influence on the 1944 Education Act, and the division of schools into three categories, which persisted for decades. I started my secondary education after other changes had taken place such as ROSLA, and the introduction of Comprehensive schools - some of the books and folders I used still had 'High School' written on them.
R. A. Butler, then minister for education, chose Norwood to chair a committee on secondary education, which produced a report on Curriculum and Examinations in Secondary Schoolsthat in turn influenced the 1944 Education Act, setting out the template for the division of state schools in England into three categories: secondary modern, technical, and grammar.
Little wonder that Gary McCulloch described Norwood as “one of the most prominent and influential English educators of the part century”. He was also a died-in-the-wool establshment figure who had passed the civil service entrance examination before devoting himself to a career in education. He served as a teacher in Leeds Grammar School, then as Master of Marlborough College, then headteacher of Harrow for eight years, before becoming Master of an Oxford College in 1934.(Source)
Book link to read: https://epdf.tips/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
He had a long career in teaching before he took over the Presidency, at the age of 70 years old.
His Presidential address was simply called 'Geography', and he started by reminiscing about what he had noticed during his 'three score years and ten'.
He started with a useful and positive quote saying:
"there is no subject in the school curriculum which has improved in scope and content more than geography".
"the true geographer finds nothing human alien to his interest"
A book on Norwood's contributions to the development of education was written by G McCulloch
Norwood also co-wrote Carter's obituary.
Norwood retired to Iwerne Minster in Dorset where he died in 1956.
A building is named after him as part of Bristol Grammar School's Elton Road Houses and is primarily used for the teaching of modern languages.
The career of Sir Cyril Norwood, who took on the role in the immediate Post War period, is tied up with that of Clement Cyril Carter, who was President at the outbreak of the Second World War and held the post for several years. It must have been a great delight to Carter to be followed a few years later by someone who had no doubt nurtured him and supported him in his own teaching.
It is also the story of someone who influenced the education of generations of schoolchildren, as well as giving a lifetime of service as a teacher, Headteacher and leadership of the HMC, which continues to this day.
Norwood was the son of a Reverend and educated at Merchant Taylor's School, and the University of Oxford.
He was a classics schoolmaster at Leeds Grammar School (1901–1906), before serving as Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School (1906–1916), Master of Marlborough College (1917–1925), Headmaster of Harrow (1926–1934) and President of St John's, Oxford, from 1934-1946.
That's quite a list of schools to have been linked with, and an Oxford college to conclude his career.
Cyril Norwood was Master at Marlborough College, and this is where C C Carter taught at the same time.
There is a Norwood Hall at Marlborough College named after him. I may even try and get to see it as part of my Presidential year travels.
Norwood was knighted in 1938 for services to education.
He had a major influence on the 1944 Education Act, and the division of schools into three categories, which persisted for decades. I started my secondary education after other changes had taken place such as ROSLA, and the introduction of Comprehensive schools - some of the books and folders I used still had 'High School' written on them.
R. A. Butler, then minister for education, chose Norwood to chair a committee on secondary education, which produced a report on Curriculum and Examinations in Secondary Schoolsthat in turn influenced the 1944 Education Act, setting out the template for the division of state schools in England into three categories: secondary modern, technical, and grammar.
Little wonder that Gary McCulloch described Norwood as “one of the most prominent and influential English educators of the part century”. He was also a died-in-the-wool establshment figure who had passed the civil service entrance examination before devoting himself to a career in education. He served as a teacher in Leeds Grammar School, then as Master of Marlborough College, then headteacher of Harrow for eight years, before becoming Master of an Oxford College in 1934.(Source)
Book link to read: https://epdf.tips/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
He had a long career in teaching before he took over the Presidency, at the age of 70 years old.
His Presidential address was simply called 'Geography', and he started by reminiscing about what he had noticed during his 'three score years and ten'.
He started with a useful and positive quote saying:
"there is no subject in the school curriculum which has improved in scope and content more than geography".
"the true geographer finds nothing human alien to his interest"
A book on Norwood's contributions to the development of education was written by G McCulloch
Norwood also co-wrote Carter's obituary.
Norwood retired to Iwerne Minster in Dorset where he died in 1956.
A building is named after him as part of Bristol Grammar School's Elton Road Houses and is primarily used for the teaching of modern languages.
Marlborough College has not forgotten him.
The main dining hall at Marlborough College is named the Norwood Hall.
Norwood also wrote the lyrics, in Latin, for Bristol Grammar School's song, Carmen Bristoliense, which is still sung today apparently.
During his career he fulfilled other prominent roles, including: Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council (1921-46); Chairman, Allied Schools (1934-54); and Chairman of the Committee on Curricula and Examinations, which in 1943 produced the influential report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools (the "Norwood Report") which led to the post-war tripartite system of secondary education.
Norwood also wrote the lyrics, in Latin, for Bristol Grammar School's song, Carmen Bristoliense, which is still sung today apparently.
During his career he fulfilled other prominent roles, including: Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council (1921-46); Chairman, Allied Schools (1934-54); and Chairman of the Committee on Curricula and Examinations, which in 1943 produced the influential report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools (the "Norwood Report") which led to the post-war tripartite system of secondary education.
A committed Christian, he was also President of the Modern Churchmen's Union (1937-47).
His publications, in addition to the Norwood Report, include: The higher education of boys in England (1909), The English educational system (1928), and The English tradition of education (1929).
His publications, in addition to the Norwood Report, include: The higher education of boys in England (1909), The English educational system (1928), and The English tradition of education (1929).
I contacted Marlborough College to see if their archivist could help fill in some gaps in his entry, given his long association with the school.
Grainne very kindly sent me a range of additional information on Cyril Norwood, as she did previously for Clement Cyril Carter (see that entry)
Quite a CV
Grainne very kindly sent me a range of additional information on Cyril Norwood, as she did previously for Clement Cyril Carter (see that entry)
Educated at Merchant Taylor’s School and Scholar of St John’s College, Oxford, 1st Lit. Hum.
Civil Service (Admiralty) 1899-1900
Assistant Master Leeds Grammar School 1901-06
Head Master Bristol Grammar School 1906-16
Master Marlborough College 1916-25
Member of Marlborough College Council 1926
Head Master Harrow School 1926-34
Hon. Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford 1927, President 1934-36
Chairman of Secondary School Exam Council 1921-46
Editor of Report on Curriculum and Examinations 1943
Past chairman of Head Masters Conference
Knighthood in 1938
She sent an image of Norwood with the Duke of Connaught, from 1925, the only photograph I could source of him. He's on the left in the image.
Grainne also sent me an image of Norwood's obituary in the
References
Norwood, Cyril. “Address to the Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 31, no. 1, 1946, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563684.
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Norwood
I added his GA Presidency to this page, as I have with all the other GA Presidents.
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/df921236-0085-49e4-8360-da7efdf7bbb6
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230603523_3
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/norwood1943.html
Papers at Sheffield University: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special/norwood
Book: https://epdf.pub/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LvJ5CwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT293&ots=_1Lsigvfcz&dq=cyril%20norwood%20geography&pg=PT293#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/ - the Norwood Report
If anyone has further information on Cyril Norwood, please get in touch.
Update - late October 2019
Here's a YouTube clip of Dr Cyril Norwood, as he was then, welcoming boys back to Harrow School for the new year in 1926 as their new Headmaster.
An early clip of a GA President.
1956 Marlburian C Norwood Obit by GeoBlogs on Scribd
References
Norwood, Cyril. “Address to the Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 31, no. 1, 1946, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563684.
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Norwood
I added his GA Presidency to this page, as I have with all the other GA Presidents.
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/df921236-0085-49e4-8360-da7efdf7bbb6
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230603523_3
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/norwood1943.html
Papers at Sheffield University: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special/norwood
Book: https://epdf.pub/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LvJ5CwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT293&ots=_1Lsigvfcz&dq=cyril%20norwood%20geography&pg=PT293#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/ - the Norwood Report
If anyone has further information on Cyril Norwood, please get in touch.
Update - late October 2019
Here's a YouTube clip of Dr Cyril Norwood, as he was then, welcoming boys back to Harrow School for the new year in 1926 as their new Headmaster.
An early clip of a GA President.
Updated August 2021.
#whsfridayfact 1935 WHS was re-opened at Highden, its current location, by Dr Cyril Norwood, President of St John's College, Oxford. The School Hall, 'Harrow' was named after the school that Dr Norwood was previously Headmaster of. Harrow is used for assembly, gymnastics & plays pic.twitter.com/HdeLudQGnm
— OWLS (@whsowls) January 18, 2019
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/15/nicol-russel-obituary
At his 90th birthday, Nick recalled a "lost" poem composed by Larkin one evening at dinner, mocking the then president of St John's:"If approached by Sir Cyril Norwood
Any respectable whore would
Charge double
For her trouble."
Updated August 2023
On the Norwood Report
"The Long Read: Reform ideas just have to find their moment in history."
— Private Education Policy Forum (@PEPForum) April 29, 2020
This is a genuinely eye-opening, hugely wide-ranging opinion piece from history professor Malcolm Gaskill @uniofeastanglia. Nuggets about private schools and reform you never knew.https://t.co/nQztLwXT2k pic.twitter.com/v5geT1bUlf
#whsfridayfact 1935 WHS was re-opened at Highden, its current location, by Dr Cyril Norwood, President of St John's College, Oxford. The School Hall, 'Harrow' was named after the school that Dr Norwood was previously Headmaster of. Harrow is used for assembly, gymnastics & plays pic.twitter.com/HdeLudQGnm
— OWLS (@whsowls) January 18, 2019
This fascinating comment has just been shared with me by @knightsben So relevant to English teaching & the excessive, damaging impact of examinations on the subject itself. Where's it from and when was it written do you think? Answer coming later! pic.twitter.com/jLdllyednn
— Barbara Bleiman 🎓 Education is Conversation (@BarbaraBleiman) October 17, 2020
"It ought to be our common aim to make education responsive to the needs of our national life, and since these continually change and develop, so ought the content of our education to be continually changing and developing."
(Dr Cyril Norwood (1875 – 1956), Harrow address 1930
“The education that has so far been given to the people is at most partial and second best, and has little in common whether in range or in spirit with the universal education that may be. It was but the least possible with which the people would be contented, and it was calculated to equip not citizens, but servants… But education has to fit us for something… so incomparably precious that it will save a man from being a mere unit, a cipher: it will give him a life of his own, independent of the machine. And therefore at any cost our education must never sink to the level at which it will be merely vocational.” (1929)
There is plenty to read of Norwood's time at Harrow, and opposing views on how successful it was.
McCulloch, Gary. “Cyril Norwood and the English Tradition of Education.” Oxford Review of Education, vol. 32, no. 1, 2006, pp. 55–69. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4618644. Accessed 24 Aug. 2023.
I found this quote, which needs to be referenced:
"It ought to be our common aim to make education responsive to the needs of our national life, and since these continually change and develop, so ought the content of our education to be continually changing and developing." (Dr Cyril Norwood (1875 – 1956), Harrow address 1930
— Kenneth P Armitage⚓️ (@Dinostratus) January 4, 2019
A few thoughts on girls...
Daily Mail October 1928:
When you consider the 100,000 or so of girls of 12 to 18 who are now being educated in the secondary and public schools - the number has increased two and three times since the war - is it not very short-sighted to suppose that a stereotyped course of learning will suit all of them? The majority will eventually marry. At school they are taught exactly as if they were going on to university (quoted in McCulloch 2007:70).
Wednesday 23 October 2019
Christchurch College, Oxford
Yesterday, I visited Oxford to see the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography: Danny Dorling at work, and took the time to visit Christchurch College, Oxford. It was in a meeting room here, in 1893, that the GA was founded. My brother in law later studied there, and my wife visited regularly during this time. That first meeting was perhaps soundtracked by the bell of Old Tom.
Images: Alan Parkinson and Sally Parkinson
Monday 21 October 2019
Thought for the Day
"The geographer should play three roles - to be delver, dovetailer and decider.....geographical instructions should provide a training in the habit of identifying important problems, of specifying the nature of data inputs requisite for a solution and of obtaining an answer"
Michael Chisholm (1971)
Sunday 20 October 2019
The peripatetic Association
Updated November 2020
The Geographical Association has used various premises during its history. It has travelled from place to place, as all good geographers do of course.
I hope to visit as many of them as possible during my Presidential year (and around that time): some of them are familiar to me already of course, and I have visited them.
The Association was formed in the Common Room of Christchurch College, Oxford.
The journals: 'The Geographical Journal' and 'Geography' list a great many venues hosting the AGMs in the early years of the Association including
1903: College of Preceptors, Bloomsbury Square, London
1912: The Physiological Lecture Theatre of University College, London
The London School of Economics was a regular location for the GA Conference for many years, when it was held over the New Year period.
There were the years in Aberystwyth and Manchester, under H J Fleure.
In 1997, there was the move to Solly Street, following an earlier residency at Fulwood Road (and Park Road Library before that)
When I first visited, there was a view up the valley towards the Peak District, but over the years this has been closed off by the construction of student accommodation.
This is the present home of the Association.
For three years, this was my place of work too, where I was fortunate to work as the Secondary Curriculum Leader of the GA. I still visit occasionally for meetings, and to work on projects.
I will be visiting more regularly for the next few years for various meetings.
Image: Alan Parkinson
I hope to visit as many of them as possible during my Presidential year (and around that time): some of them are familiar to me already of course, and I have visited them.
The Association was formed in the Common Room of Christchurch College, Oxford.
1903: College of Preceptors, Bloomsbury Square, London
1912: The Physiological Lecture Theatre of University College, London
The London School of Economics was a regular location for the GA Conference for many years, when it was held over the New Year period.
There were the years in Aberystwyth and Manchester, under H J Fleure.
In 1997, there was the move to Solly Street, following an earlier residency at Fulwood Road (and Park Road Library before that)
When I first visited, there was a view up the valley towards the Peak District, but over the years this has been closed off by the construction of student accommodation.
This is the present home of the Association.
For three years, this was my place of work too, where I was fortunate to work as the Secondary Curriculum Leader of the GA. I still visit occasionally for meetings, and to work on projects.
I will be visiting more regularly for the next few years for various meetings.
Image: Alan Parkinson
Saturday 19 October 2019
1945: "Getting geography across"
The 1945 Annual Conference saw a symposium involving James Fairgrieve and Leonard Brooks (both former Presidents) called "Getting Geography Across".
This was aimed at pooling ideas for teaching. Great stress was apparently placed on "bringing reality into teaching". I suppose the current trend for authenticity is part of the ongoing debate we have as geography teachers. Look at point. 4 for example and the current discussions over for how long teachers should talk.
There was some age-old advice from Miss M. D. Hughes.
And more advice from a Miss Bennetton
Reference
“ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 1945: MODERN CLASSROOM TECHNIQUE.” Geography, vol. 30, no. 1, 1945, pp. 20–29. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562426.
Darby, H. C. “Academic Geography in Britain: 1918-1946.” Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, vol. 8, no. 1, 1983, pp. 14–26. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/622271.
This was aimed at pooling ideas for teaching. Great stress was apparently placed on "bringing reality into teaching". I suppose the current trend for authenticity is part of the ongoing debate we have as geography teachers. Look at point. 4 for example and the current discussions over for how long teachers should talk.
There was some age-old advice from Miss M. D. Hughes.
And more advice from a Miss Bennetton
Reference
“ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 1945: MODERN CLASSROOM TECHNIQUE.” Geography, vol. 30, no. 1, 1945, pp. 20–29. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562426.
Darby, H. C. “Academic Geography in Britain: 1918-1946.” Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, vol. 8, no. 1, 1983, pp. 14–26. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/622271.
Friday 18 October 2019
1943: the 50th Anniversary conference
This was held in Cambridge at Newnham College and other venues in the city. It was a subdued affair given the circumstances of the ongoing war, so the Anniversary celebrations were a little muted.
One of the important elements of the event was a trio of papers from three giants of the GA's past - all former Presidents: Halford Mackinder, H J Fleure, and John Linton Myres.
They shared their views on the Development of the subject.
The resulting papers weren't actually reproduced until 1953 because of a paper shortage.
References
Mackinder, Halford J., et al. “THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 3, 1943, pp. 69–77. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563379.
One of the important elements of the event was a trio of papers from three giants of the GA's past - all former Presidents: Halford Mackinder, H J Fleure, and John Linton Myres.
They shared their views on the Development of the subject.
The resulting papers weren't actually reproduced until 1953 because of a paper shortage.
References
Mackinder, Halford J., et al. “THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 3, 1943, pp. 69–77. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563379.
Thursday 17 October 2019
1943: Making stuff
A long running debate has been had about the nature of the work we should be asking students to complete in Geography, and whether we are just occupying students with 'busy work', and whether they would learn better sat in rows of desks, with nothing on the walls, doing repeated testing and being introduced to new material in a way which is formalised from lesson to lesson.
There's also space for play and creativity, and I tend to lean towards that more often. Much of this article would be familiar to many teachers today.
I'm not sure how many of our modern-day pupils possess fret saws however.
Reference
Birch, T. W. “CONSTRUCTIVE AND CREATIVE WORK IN GEOGRAPHY.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 1, 1943, pp. 19–25. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562265.
There's also space for play and creativity, and I tend to lean towards that more often. Much of this article would be familiar to many teachers today.
I'm not sure how many of our modern-day pupils possess fret saws however.
Reference
Birch, T. W. “CONSTRUCTIVE AND CREATIVE WORK IN GEOGRAPHY.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 1, 1943, pp. 19–25. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562265.
Monday 14 October 2019
1942-1945: Thomas Cotterill Warrington
Updated August 2023Part way through the Second World War, the Presidency moved to Thomas Cotterill Warrington - a post he was to hold for three years to steady the ship.
He was asked if he would like the Presidency at the Annual Meeting in Exeter in 1942 (detailed in the previous blogpost) in recognition of his long and valuable services to the Association.
Prior to that, he had held other posts within the GA, notably taking on the Honorary Librarian post following the retirement of H J Fleure, and the increase in use of the library connected with the move to Manchester.
In this role, he spent much time on "the arrangement of books, the answering of many queries, the selection of reviewers and so on. The filling of our shelves with annual volumes of journals made it necessary to discard books clearly known to be of little value.."
Books were sometimes lost or re-arranged as the premises of the time had to be used for evening classes - which must have been a source of some frustration for Warrington.
He also helped with the accounts of the Association during the 1940s: https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40024392
One additional challenge for the GA during the Second World War was that the GA's membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces. Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city of London too, away from the LSE. More on this in later blog posts on the impact of the war.
In 1942, conference had moved to Exeter, but fortunately missed Hitler's famous Baedeker raids on the city. In 1943, it was held in Cambridge. In that year, there was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association (see separate blogpost), but it was a sombre affair under the circumstances of the war, and some time before it was properly celebrated).
Warrington had written about the origins of the Geographical Association in 'Geography' on the 50th anniversary of its founding, which formed his Presidential Address for that year (1943)
His initials can be found all over copies of 'Geography' through the 1930s and 1940s, often with reviews of books or documents relating to GA activity and committees and other reports.
In an Address from 1943, he went back to the GA's origins, as Fleure and others had done before him, and discussed the beginnings of the GA.
He was asked if he would like the Presidency at the Annual Meeting in Exeter in 1942 (detailed in the previous blogpost) in recognition of his long and valuable services to the Association.
Prior to that, he had held other posts within the GA, notably taking on the Honorary Librarian post following the retirement of H J Fleure, and the increase in use of the library connected with the move to Manchester.
In this role, he spent much time on "the arrangement of books, the answering of many queries, the selection of reviewers and so on. The filling of our shelves with annual volumes of journals made it necessary to discard books clearly known to be of little value.."
Books were sometimes lost or re-arranged as the premises of the time had to be used for evening classes - which must have been a source of some frustration for Warrington.
He also helped with the accounts of the Association during the 1940s: https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40024392
One additional challenge for the GA during the Second World War was that the GA's membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces. Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city of London too, away from the LSE. More on this in later blog posts on the impact of the war.
In 1942, conference had moved to Exeter, but fortunately missed Hitler's famous Baedeker raids on the city. In 1943, it was held in Cambridge. In that year, there was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association (see separate blogpost), but it was a sombre affair under the circumstances of the war, and some time before it was properly celebrated).
Warrington had written about the origins of the Geographical Association in 'Geography' on the 50th anniversary of its founding, which formed his Presidential Address for that year (1943)
His initials can be found all over copies of 'Geography' through the 1930s and 1940s, often with reviews of books or documents relating to GA activity and committees and other reports.
In an Address from 1943, he went back to the GA's origins, as Fleure and others had done before him, and discussed the beginnings of the GA.
This is well worth reading to go along with the other documents that I've mentioned during the blog which reference the early years of the Association - it's always good to look backwards before contemplating the future.
The piece was only published in 1953, some ten years later, and is an excellent summary of some of the key personalities in the GA, including more details on the role of people like Douglas Freshfield and Halford MacKinder.
He also thanked other unsung heroes of the time, including J. S. Masterman and Miss E. J. Rickard
His Obituary, written by H J Fleure, who seems to have written a great many of them in his long career at the GA, provides the fullest story of his life within the Association and outside it.
He was a teacher, and finally Headteacher at Leek Grammar School until 1934. This is important as there were few teacher Presidents during this time.
Following the founding of the IBG in 1933, Warrington was involved in close working with them. He also selected the four maps which the OS made available to GA members at a special discount price. These areas he selected were:
- the Cairngorms
- Wenlock and the Wrekin
- South Welsh Valleys
- part of the Sussex Downs
His Presidential Address was on the theme of renewing geography, and linked with Sir Isaac Newton. It was the 3rd centenary of his birth in 1942 when Newton was born.
He was influential in greater use of Ordnance Survey maps in education during this time.
Warrington was a member of Council from 1930-1954.
He died in 1963, aged 94, but had actually first joined the Association in 1904 - that is some service to the Association!!
During the immediate Post-War period, the work of former President Patrick Abercrombie also became very important, as London was rebuilt following severe damage in the Blitz, and his plans were also adopted or discussed in other cities.
References
Obituary: Written by Fleure, H. J. “THOMAS COTTERILL WARRINGTON.” Geography, vol. 49, no. 1, 1964, pp. 56–57. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40565763
Source of the image of T C Warrington
The piece was only published in 1953, some ten years later, and is an excellent summary of some of the key personalities in the GA, including more details on the role of people like Douglas Freshfield and Halford MacKinder.
He also thanked other unsung heroes of the time, including J. S. Masterman and Miss E. J. Rickard
His Obituary, written by H J Fleure, who seems to have written a great many of them in his long career at the GA, provides the fullest story of his life within the Association and outside it.
He was a teacher, and finally Headteacher at Leek Grammar School until 1934. This is important as there were few teacher Presidents during this time.
Following the founding of the IBG in 1933, Warrington was involved in close working with them. He also selected the four maps which the OS made available to GA members at a special discount price. These areas he selected were:
- the Cairngorms
- Wenlock and the Wrekin
- South Welsh Valleys
- part of the Sussex Downs
His Presidential Address was on the theme of renewing geography, and linked with Sir Isaac Newton. It was the 3rd centenary of his birth in 1942 when Newton was born.
He was influential in greater use of Ordnance Survey maps in education during this time.
Warrington was a member of Council from 1930-1954.
He died in 1963, aged 94, but had actually first joined the Association in 1904 - that is some service to the Association!!
During the immediate Post-War period, the work of former President Patrick Abercrombie also became very important, as London was rebuilt following severe damage in the Blitz, and his plans were also adopted or discussed in other cities.
References
Obituary: Written by Fleure, H. J. “THOMAS COTTERILL WARRINGTON.” Geography, vol. 49, no. 1, 1964, pp. 56–57. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40565763
Source of the image of T C Warrington
Warrington, T. C. “THE BEGINNINGS OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION. From an Address to the Geographical Association at Its Jubilee Conference. Cambridge, 10th-15th August, 1943.” Geography, vol. 38, no. 4, 1953, pp. 221–230. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40564701
Mackinder, Halford J., et al. “THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 3, 1943, pp. 69–77. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563379
Fleure, H. J (1953) https://www.jstor.org/stable/40564702
Rex Walford's book was an important source here as well.
Details on the 1943 Conference: “ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 1943.” Geography, vol. 28, no. 3, 1943, pp. 86–87. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563381
If you know more about T. C. Warrington's time as President, please get in touch. This is quite a brief entry. I wish I knew more about the GA during this period in History.
Updated May 2021
Thanks to Alastair Owens for sharing two images of a programme from the 1945 Conference which he found. It is an amazing document.
This document will have its own blog post as well....
1942 - Exeter Conference and some Everest connections
Updated August 2023From Balchin's centenary book.
Hope Hall, Exeter University
In 1934 Ruttledge was awarded a Royal Geographical Society Founder's Medal; his citation read 'For his journeys in the Himalayas and his leadership of the Mount Everest Expedition, 1933.' Although the Mount Everest committee set up an inquiry into the reasons for the failure of the expedition, Ruttledge was not blamed, almost all members of the expedition expressing their admiration and fondness for him.
The highest point attained on this attempt was 8,570 m (28,116 f), but the route was found to be too difficult and the vital camp V that should have been reached on a rare day with fair weather – 20 May – was, as a result of disagreements between team members, never established.
Image: Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license - I love it when connections like this come to light...
Although the North Col was reached, a combination of high winds, storms and waist-deep snow made progress above 7,000 m difficult and, with the monsoon arriving early, Ruttledge called off the expedition.
Tenzing Norgay wrote of Ruttledge and the 1936 expedition:[9]
Mr Ruttledge was too old to be a high climber, but he was a wonderful man, gentle and warm-hearted, and all the Sherpas were very glad to be with him. This was a very big expedition, with more sahibs than there had ever been before, and a total of sixty Sherpas, which was five times as many as in 1935.
Some familiar names there.
The dinner and council meeting were held at Hope Hall, which is still used by the University (see image at the bottom of the post)
The dinner and council meeting were held at Hope Hall, which is still used by the University (see image at the bottom of the post)
This was to avoid the wartime raids on London, although Exeter was also targeted during the Baedeker raids.
Hope Hall, Exeter University
Hugh Ruttledge's book was published in the 1930s.
He led two expeditions to Everest: in 1933 and 1936, so this would have been an exciting session to have heard: a decade and a bit after the disappearance of Mallory and Irvine.
1933 Expedition
It was during this expedition that Wyn-Harris found the ice axe which belonged to Andrew Irvine, who had disappeared on the peak on the 1924 British Expedition with George Mallory.
I've seen that Ice Axe at Shrewsbury School and Charterhouse has some Mallory artefacts.
Image: Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license - I love it when connections like this come to light...
1936 Expedition
Although the North Col was reached, a combination of high winds, storms and waist-deep snow made progress above 7,000 m difficult and, with the monsoon arriving early, Ruttledge called off the expedition.
Tenzing Norgay wrote of Ruttledge and the 1936 expedition:[9]
Mr Ruttledge was too old to be a high climber, but he was a wonderful man, gentle and warm-hearted, and all the Sherpas were very glad to be with him. This was a very big expedition, with more sahibs than there had ever been before, and a total of sixty Sherpas, which was five times as many as in 1935.
Source: Wikipedia entry
Ruttledge moved down to Devon, hence the local connection with Exeter presumably.
Friday 11 October 2019
Thought for the Day
"Last year I concentrated on Geography and where did it get me? Nowhere. This year, I'm going to concentrate on boys".
Josie Pye in Anne of Green Gables.
Thursday 10 October 2019
1942: Textbooks - how to use them...
"Ideally a textbook should be an attractive piece of descriptive
literature bound together as a story of human life upon some portion
of the earth 's surface."
"The region chosen, the particular human life in that region selected, and the kind of detail given, as well as the conclusions drawn, must depend on the age of the children. The descriptive literature must lend itself to study - i.e., properly selected exercises and questions should ensure that the necessary geographical facts can be deduced and organised from it. It will be necessary, therefore, to include many pictures not as illustrations, but as study exercises, so that the descriptive text may take on greater reality. Similarly, there may be statistics and outside references which need graphing or mapping and subsequently investigating. In addition, there should be certain detailed maps not readily available in any school - e.g., a particular farm, a logging camp, a factory, a city, etc., which will require directed study.
The teacher may be able to supply other data, such as samples, specimens, films, wireless talks, but what- ever happens the teacher must use the textbook and see that stimulating exercises and questions are asked, that additional facts are supplied where necessary, and that a proper summary in note and map form is built up by each child."
References
Scarfe, N. V. “GEOGRAPHY TEXTBOOKS FOR SCHOOLS.” Geography, vol. 27, no. 3, 1942, pp. 106–119. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562229.
Neville Vincent Scarfe, UBCʹs first Dean of Education, was born in Essex, England in 1908. He attended the University of London graduating with first class honours in geography. After teaching geography until 1935, Scarfe became Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education at the University of London where he remained until 1951. Internationally recognized for his research work in the teaching of geography and in the principles and philosophy of education, he became Dean of Education at the University of Manitoba in 1951 and remained there for five years. In 1956, Scarfe became the founding Dean of Education at UBC. A consolidation of the Universityʹs School of Education and the Provincial Normal School had given rise to the new Faculty of Education. He continued to guide the faculty until his retirement in 1973.
"The region chosen, the particular human life in that region selected, and the kind of detail given, as well as the conclusions drawn, must depend on the age of the children. The descriptive literature must lend itself to study - i.e., properly selected exercises and questions should ensure that the necessary geographical facts can be deduced and organised from it. It will be necessary, therefore, to include many pictures not as illustrations, but as study exercises, so that the descriptive text may take on greater reality. Similarly, there may be statistics and outside references which need graphing or mapping and subsequently investigating. In addition, there should be certain detailed maps not readily available in any school - e.g., a particular farm, a logging camp, a factory, a city, etc., which will require directed study.
The teacher may be able to supply other data, such as samples, specimens, films, wireless talks, but what- ever happens the teacher must use the textbook and see that stimulating exercises and questions are asked, that additional facts are supplied where necessary, and that a proper summary in note and map form is built up by each child."
Neville Scarfe
References
Scarfe, N. V. “GEOGRAPHY TEXTBOOKS FOR SCHOOLS.” Geography, vol. 27, no. 3, 1942, pp. 106–119. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562229.
Neville Vincent Scarfe, UBCʹs first Dean of Education, was born in Essex, England in 1908. He attended the University of London graduating with first class honours in geography. After teaching geography until 1935, Scarfe became Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education at the University of London where he remained until 1951. Internationally recognized for his research work in the teaching of geography and in the principles and philosophy of education, he became Dean of Education at the University of Manitoba in 1951 and remained there for five years. In 1956, Scarfe became the founding Dean of Education at UBC. A consolidation of the Universityʹs School of Education and the Provincial Normal School had given rise to the new Faculty of Education. He continued to guide the faculty until his retirement in 1973.
Wednesday 9 October 2019
The GA and the Second World War (cont.)
Rex Walford's book has a chapter exploring the 1940s and 1950s.
He explains how membership dropped during WWII as teachers enrolled in the forces, but publications and conference kept going, with Mackinder still active in his 80s. This was a period when the nature of the subject, and the different elements were much discussed. Was it a science or a humanity?
During the War, there was much preparation for post-war period and reconstruction.
There was also disruption from 1930 onwards because of evalucation of children from the London area, and other industrial cities which were potentially targets.
1940: The GA postponed the Annual Conference scheduled to be held in London in January. The Conference was held in March 1940 in Blackpool. In December the High School of Commerce in Manchester, containing the GA’s Library and Offices, was saved from an air raid fire by the courage of the caretaker, Mr. Sim, who brought the blaze to a halt by working a hose for several hours. The Land Utilisation Survey, used by the County War Agricultural Executive Committees charged with the task of increasing food production, lost many valuable records in a London air raid.
The 1944 Education Act was one part of the post-war changes that affected geography teaching.
It was led by Rab Butler, and introduced the 11+ and a tripartite system promising "secondary education for all" but in different institutions depending on 'ability'.
This produced a number of different potential geography 'curricula' to prepare for. There was also a focus on Primary geography, and textbooks were produced for this age range, often involving quite stereotypical stories of young people such as "Bombo of the Congo", but even this was a little more enlightened in its coverage than some of the earlier textbooks had been. Oliver Garnett, sister of GA President to-be Alice, wrote the 'Foundations of School Geography' book used in many schools.
Textbooks by authors such as Thomas Pickles and Preece and Wood were much used in secondary schools.
E. W. 'Bill' Young was teaching at Norwich School when he started writing his series called 'Our World' before teaming up with J. H. Lowry to write books that I remember using in the 1960s at school. These included Sample Studies, such as the Kazakhs of the Steppes and Tooktoo of the Eskimos. More on that to come later... these persisted for decades.
There was also pressure from Social Studies to amalgamate, which placed geography's identity under question. The GA was part of the work to maintain its place within the curriculum, and see a change from Regions towards the Models which appeared during the 1960s. More on that to come as the blog develops and further Presidents show their influence.
Bill Marsden's paper (see references) describes some changes during this period:
Wooldridge was to resurface as a key figure in the geography versus geographical education encounters of the post-war period. He was a trenchant peer critic. In 1950 he addressed the IBG and scorned the contentment of his audience with ‘agreeably titillating’ articles on subjects of minor interest which made ‘no claim whatsoever to scholarship’ (Stoddart, 1983, p. 5).
To Wooldridge a firm physical basis was the sine qua non of a high quality geography. He claimed that the social/urban orientation of the subject was becoming too strong. Geography, he maintained, was about ‘place’ and not about ‘man’ (Graves, 1975, p. 56).
On the educational front he abhorred the analogous post-war trends towards introducing social studies into the curriculum. These he blamed on geographical educationists. The tendencies threatened to take ‘the ge- out of geography’, as he put it (1949, pp. 9–18). Social studies would On Taking the Geography Out of Geographical Education Some Historical Pointers in Geography Page 7 of 15 ‘destroy the value of geography as an important medium of education’ asserted the Education Committee of the RGS (1950, p. 181), in a report reputedly the work of Wooldridge. Like Geikie, he argued that the priority in schools should be detailed fieldwork in the rural landscape, developing a ‘laboratory spirit and the careful, indeed minute study of limited areas’ (1955, p. 80)
More on Wooldridge in a future blog post.
There was plenty of note in a chronology by G R Crone.
and this too
Image: my own school exercise book from 1976 ish
Reference
Walford, Rex. “On the Frontier with the New Model Army: Geography Publishing from the 1960s to the 1990s.” Geography, vol. 74, no. 4, 1989, pp. 308–320. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40571739.
Boardman, David, and Michael McPartland. “A Hundred Years of Geography Teaching: From Regions to Models: 1944—1969.” Teaching Geography, vol. 18, no. 2, 1993, pp. 65–68. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23753284
He explains how membership dropped during WWII as teachers enrolled in the forces, but publications and conference kept going, with Mackinder still active in his 80s. This was a period when the nature of the subject, and the different elements were much discussed. Was it a science or a humanity?
During the War, there was much preparation for post-war period and reconstruction.
There was also disruption from 1930 onwards because of evalucation of children from the London area, and other industrial cities which were potentially targets.
1940: The GA postponed the Annual Conference scheduled to be held in London in January. The Conference was held in March 1940 in Blackpool. In December the High School of Commerce in Manchester, containing the GA’s Library and Offices, was saved from an air raid fire by the courage of the caretaker, Mr. Sim, who brought the blaze to a halt by working a hose for several hours. The Land Utilisation Survey, used by the County War Agricultural Executive Committees charged with the task of increasing food production, lost many valuable records in a London air raid.
The 1944 Education Act was one part of the post-war changes that affected geography teaching.It was led by Rab Butler, and introduced the 11+ and a tripartite system promising "secondary education for all" but in different institutions depending on 'ability'.
This produced a number of different potential geography 'curricula' to prepare for. There was also a focus on Primary geography, and textbooks were produced for this age range, often involving quite stereotypical stories of young people such as "Bombo of the Congo", but even this was a little more enlightened in its coverage than some of the earlier textbooks had been. Oliver Garnett, sister of GA President to-be Alice, wrote the 'Foundations of School Geography' book used in many schools.
Textbooks by authors such as Thomas Pickles and Preece and Wood were much used in secondary schools.
E. W. 'Bill' Young was teaching at Norwich School when he started writing his series called 'Our World' before teaming up with J. H. Lowry to write books that I remember using in the 1960s at school. These included Sample Studies, such as the Kazakhs of the Steppes and Tooktoo of the Eskimos. More on that to come later... these persisted for decades.
There was also pressure from Social Studies to amalgamate, which placed geography's identity under question. The GA was part of the work to maintain its place within the curriculum, and see a change from Regions towards the Models which appeared during the 1960s. More on that to come as the blog develops and further Presidents show their influence.
Bill Marsden's paper (see references) describes some changes during this period:
Wooldridge was to resurface as a key figure in the geography versus geographical education encounters of the post-war period. He was a trenchant peer critic. In 1950 he addressed the IBG and scorned the contentment of his audience with ‘agreeably titillating’ articles on subjects of minor interest which made ‘no claim whatsoever to scholarship’ (Stoddart, 1983, p. 5).
To Wooldridge a firm physical basis was the sine qua non of a high quality geography. He claimed that the social/urban orientation of the subject was becoming too strong. Geography, he maintained, was about ‘place’ and not about ‘man’ (Graves, 1975, p. 56).
On the educational front he abhorred the analogous post-war trends towards introducing social studies into the curriculum. These he blamed on geographical educationists. The tendencies threatened to take ‘the ge- out of geography’, as he put it (1949, pp. 9–18). Social studies would On Taking the Geography Out of Geographical Education Some Historical Pointers in Geography Page 7 of 15 ‘destroy the value of geography as an important medium of education’ asserted the Education Committee of the RGS (1950, p. 181), in a report reputedly the work of Wooldridge. Like Geikie, he argued that the priority in schools should be detailed fieldwork in the rural landscape, developing a ‘laboratory spirit and the careful, indeed minute study of limited areas’ (1955, p. 80)
More on Wooldridge in a future blog post.
There was plenty of note in a chronology by G R Crone.
and this too
Image: my own school exercise book from 1976 ish
Reference
Walford, Rex. “On the Frontier with the New Model Army: Geography Publishing from the 1960s to the 1990s.” Geography, vol. 74, no. 4, 1989, pp. 308–320. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40571739.
Boardman, David, and Michael McPartland. “A Hundred Years of Geography Teaching: From Regions to Models: 1944—1969.” Teaching Geography, vol. 18, no. 2, 1993, pp. 65–68. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23753284
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/pluginfile.php/631169/mod_resource/content/1/geog_sk6_06t_5.pdf
Crone, G. R. “British Geography in the Twentieth Century.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 130, no. 2, 1964, pp. 197–220. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1794582.
Crone, G. R. “British Geography in the Twentieth Century.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 130, no. 2, 1964, pp. 197–220. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1794582.
Tuesday 8 October 2019
Powerful Knowledge
Powerful knowledge is a persuasive argument for the need for professional subject knowledge, and the role of school in teaching that knowledge, using skilled pedagogy. It has found favour in recent years, with the work of Michael Young, who I have seen speak several times, particularly in a debate with Margaret Roberts. It has also informed the work of the GeoCapabilities project I was involved in.
An early attempt, dating from 1918, was made by E. J. Orford.
He described the need to know certain facts at certain stages in a child's education. It's worth reading to see how we've come on so much in 100 years... or not.
Well worth a read...
References
Orford, E. J. “GEOGRAPHY : WHAT FACTS SHALL WE TEACH ?” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 9, no. 5, 1918, pp. 212–215. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554678.
An early attempt, dating from 1918, was made by E. J. Orford.
He described the need to know certain facts at certain stages in a child's education. It's worth reading to see how we've come on so much in 100 years... or not.
Well worth a read...
References
Orford, E. J. “GEOGRAPHY : WHAT FACTS SHALL WE TEACH ?” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 9, no. 5, 1918, pp. 212–215. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554678.
Sunday 6 October 2019
Thought for the Day
Maps of the intellectual landscape are always awkward affairs. The boundaries between different subjects are not entirely contingent — reasons can always be found for the fences to run this way rather than that — but neither do they seem to correspond to any clearly defined, ‘natural’ divisions. And, as we know, maps are instruments of power: even (especially) maps of an intellectual landscape.
Derek Gregory & Rex Walford (1989)
1939-1941: Clement Cyril Carter
The outbreak of war led to a temporary change in the tenure of GA Presidents.
There were only two for the duration of the war, and the first of these was C C Carter.
Clement Cyril Carter was involved with the GA for many years prior to becoming President, and had several roles within the Association.
I believe when he became the President he was involved in some teaching, which would make him one of the first Presidents in that capacity.
In 1938, his acceptance of the offer was announced in 'Geography'
In the early years of the association, he was involved with the journals, and also organised the reviews of books and other resources which were featured in its pages. He provided pictorial illustrations as well, showing the importance of this element of the journals, which is now of great importance of course.
Carter's association with the GA goes back to 1901, when he had an article published in the first issue of 'The Geographical Teacher'.
At the time, he was teaching at Quernmore School, Bromley, Kent.
Carter later taught at Marlborough College, and in 1926 he was at the helm of a Standing Committee for the development of higher geographical teaching, followed by the creation of a Primary Committee under Mrs. Katz in 1927, and the Secondary Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. C. B Thurston.
He moved onto the Geography Department at Oxford University.
He published a number of books which linked to the courses that he taught, and which were republished for decades after.
These included:
"Man the World over"
"Land-forms and life"
"A Geographical Grammar"
They can be found on the Internet Archive website.
One additional challenge for the GA during the war was that membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces.
Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city too, where it had been held of late. There was a conference in Blackpool in 1940, for example, which was away from the obvious places that might have been at risk of bombing. The conference in 1941 was held in Edinburgh.
His association with the GA went back to the beginning and connections with Professor A J Herbertson, who never became President himself, but has his own entry on the blog back in 1915.
His Presidential lecture was on 'The Creed of a Teacher of School Geography'
Carter's obituary by H. J. Fleure and Cyril Norwood (both Presidents themselves in the years after Carter) sets out from the beginning that he was a special man. I'd be happy for this to be said about me:
"C C Carter was one of the small company of geniuses in the art of education"
"He was a born teacher and he would not be tempted away from what he felt to be his proper work."
He was a Housemaster and developed several new courses.
"He loved Geography, but he did not worship it as a subject. He regarded education as a whole, a traning of the man and of the citizen, in which geography was a valuable instrument."
I contacted Marlborough College to see if their archivist could help - I was particularly interested in an image of C C Carter as I couldn't find one, and was keen to see if they had any other documentation and in particular an image of C C Carter.
Thanks to Gráinne Lenehan - Archivist at Marlborough College
She sent me the image.
She also had an image of C C Carter, which was excellent news.
Grainne also sent me an obituary published in the school magazine, The Marlburian (1949), written by George Lamb who taught at the college from 1928-57).
Credit: Marlborough College Archives
References
There are few resources around C C Carter, so if anyone has any further background, please get in touch.
References
www.jstor.org/stable/40574025 - Peter Fox article on the use of images in Geography which references C. C. Carter
Carter, C.C. (1901) "Amateur photography as an aid in teaching geography", The Geographical Teacher, vol.1, pp.27 - referred to earlier
Presidential 'Message' - published in 1940: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40561208 on 'The Creed of a Teacher of School Geography' giving his own thoughts on what GEOGRAPHY stood for - it ends with Y for 'YOU'.
“ANNUAL REPORT, 1938.” Geography, vol. 24, no. 1, 1939, pp. 48–51. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40560833.
Presidential Message - publised in 1941: 'World Outlook in the School' https://www.jstor.org/stable/40561375
Carter, C. C. “WORLD OUTLOOK IN THE SCHOOL.” Geography, vol. 26, no. 1, 1941, pp. 1–6. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40561375.
Perhaps the definitive account of this period of the GA was written by H. J. Fleure, and can be read on the JSTOR by subscribers to 'Geography'
Access it here.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.699.7377&rep=rep1&type=pdf - mention of C C Carter in here
There were only two for the duration of the war, and the first of these was C C Carter.
Clement Cyril Carter was involved with the GA for many years prior to becoming President, and had several roles within the Association.
I believe when he became the President he was involved in some teaching, which would make him one of the first Presidents in that capacity.
In 1938, his acceptance of the offer was announced in 'Geography'
In the early years of the association, he was involved with the journals, and also organised the reviews of books and other resources which were featured in its pages. He provided pictorial illustrations as well, showing the importance of this element of the journals, which is now of great importance of course.
Carter's association with the GA goes back to 1901, when he had an article published in the first issue of 'The Geographical Teacher'.
At the time, he was teaching at Quernmore School, Bromley, Kent.
Carter later taught at Marlborough College, and in 1926 he was at the helm of a Standing Committee for the development of higher geographical teaching, followed by the creation of a Primary Committee under Mrs. Katz in 1927, and the Secondary Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. C. B Thurston.
He moved onto the Geography Department at Oxford University.
He published a number of books which linked to the courses that he taught, and which were republished for decades after.
These included:
"Man the World over"
"Land-forms and life"
"A Geographical Grammar"
They can be found on the Internet Archive website.
One additional challenge for the GA during the war was that membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces.
Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city too, where it had been held of late. There was a conference in Blackpool in 1940, for example, which was away from the obvious places that might have been at risk of bombing. The conference in 1941 was held in Edinburgh.
His association with the GA went back to the beginning and connections with Professor A J Herbertson, who never became President himself, but has his own entry on the blog back in 1915.
His Presidential lecture was on 'The Creed of a Teacher of School Geography'
In it, he talks about the importance of the profession, and some of the challenges in a fairly unique way for a Presidential Address.
"Stock taking and self-examination are salutary exercises for the teacher, .particularly so in a rapidly changing subject.... it is well to pause from time to time and survey both the objective at which we are aiming and the path or paths by which we may reach it."
His address was essentially an acrostic poem on themes connecting teachers with the word GEOGRAPHY.
This is what he suggested that GEOGRAPHY stood for.
This is gold for my Presidential lecture.
G: Groundwork
E: Elasticity
O: Order and Organisation
G: Group
R: Region
A: Atlas
P: Pen and Pencil - "the chief working tools of the classroom"
"The Atlas is the dictionary of the young geographer, and he [sic] must be taught to so regard and use it. It is "guide, philosopher and friend"... a map is no dead thing, but portrays life.... Behind the static red line that marks a frontier, there lies the dynamic life that has gone to its making and that still pulsates along it - the hardships, courage and tenacity of a school where character is moulded..."
H: Humanise
Y: YOU
"Whether geography is or is not to serve as a discipline in the attainment of culture depends on YOU"
"Stock taking and self-examination are salutary exercises for the teacher, .particularly so in a rapidly changing subject.... it is well to pause from time to time and survey both the objective at which we are aiming and the path or paths by which we may reach it."
His address was essentially an acrostic poem on themes connecting teachers with the word GEOGRAPHY.
This is what he suggested that GEOGRAPHY stood for.
This is gold for my Presidential lecture.
G: Groundwork
E: Elasticity
O: Order and Organisation
G: Group
R: Region
A: Atlas
P: Pen and Pencil - "the chief working tools of the classroom"
"The Atlas is the dictionary of the young geographer, and he [sic] must be taught to so regard and use it. It is "guide, philosopher and friend"... a map is no dead thing, but portrays life.... Behind the static red line that marks a frontier, there lies the dynamic life that has gone to its making and that still pulsates along it - the hardships, courage and tenacity of a school where character is moulded..."
H: Humanise
Y: YOU
"Whether geography is or is not to serve as a discipline in the attainment of culture depends on YOU"
Carter's obituary by H. J. Fleure and Cyril Norwood (both Presidents themselves in the years after Carter) sets out from the beginning that he was a special man. I'd be happy for this to be said about me:
"C C Carter was one of the small company of geniuses in the art of education"
"He was a born teacher and he would not be tempted away from what he felt to be his proper work."
He was a Housemaster and developed several new courses.
"He loved Geography, but he did not worship it as a subject. He regarded education as a whole, a traning of the man and of the citizen, in which geography was a valuable instrument."
I contacted Marlborough College to see if their archivist could help - I was particularly interested in an image of C C Carter as I couldn't find one, and was keen to see if they had any other documentation and in particular an image of C C Carter.
Thanks to Gráinne Lenehan - Archivist at Marlborough College
She sent me the image.
The following details are taken from the Marlborough College Register:
Clement Cyril Carter, M.A.
Educated at Lancing College and Trinity College Dublin
Assistant Master Quernmore School, and Felsted School to 1907
Assistant Master at Marlborough College from 1907 to 1937
Housemaster of B3 House and Upcot (a junior House)
Author of geographical works and joint-author of The Marlborough Country
Reader in Geography at Oxford 1937
Died 1949
She also had an image of C C Carter, which was excellent news.
Grainne also sent me an obituary published in the school magazine, The Marlburian (1949), written by George Lamb who taught at the college from 1928-57).
Credit: Marlborough College Archives
References
There are few resources around C C Carter, so if anyone has any further background, please get in touch.
References
www.jstor.org/stable/40574025 - Peter Fox article on the use of images in Geography which references C. C. Carter
Carter, C.C. (1901) "Amateur photography as an aid in teaching geography", The Geographical Teacher, vol.1, pp.27 - referred to earlier
Presidential 'Message' - published in 1940: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40561208 on 'The Creed of a Teacher of School Geography' giving his own thoughts on what GEOGRAPHY stood for - it ends with Y for 'YOU'.
“ANNUAL REPORT, 1938.” Geography, vol. 24, no. 1, 1939, pp. 48–51. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40560833.
Presidential Message - publised in 1941: 'World Outlook in the School' https://www.jstor.org/stable/40561375
Carter, C. C. “WORLD OUTLOOK IN THE SCHOOL.” Geography, vol. 26, no. 1, 1941, pp. 1–6. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40561375.
Perhaps the definitive account of this period of the GA was written by H. J. Fleure, and can be read on the JSTOR by subscribers to 'Geography'
Access it here.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.699.7377&rep=rep1&type=pdf - mention of C C Carter in here
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From the archive - Fleure to Mill 2 - Christmas 1933
Another letter from H J Fleure to Hugh Robert Mill. I love these old letters in the GA Archives. I plan to go up to Solly Street this comin...
