Regional Studies Association

In early 2024, Alan Kinder left the Geographical Association to become the Chief Executive of the Regional Studies Association.

While researching a few GA Presidents I came across some connections between the GA and the RSA.

This document was produced for their 50th Anniversary in 2015. (PDF download)

There are some familiar names.

It was no surprise to see Dudley Stamp mentioned there, or Patrick Abercrombie.

In the entry on Michael Wise:

He was also the founding President of the Transport Studies Society and for ten years (1973–1984) chaired the Executive Committee of the Association of Agriculture and, although he held no office, he was much involved, as his unpublished 1992 paper shows, in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the Regional Studies Association.

"A British Group of the organisation was later formed with membership including influential figures such as Sir Patrick Abercrombie, Sir Dudley Stamp, Otto Koenigberger, Percy Johnson-Marshall, Robert Gardner-Medwin and Robert Grieve. The British Group’s underlying principles originated from the work of C.B. Fawcett and  Patrick Geddes in employing empirical approaches to regional planning and physical development, and contrasted with the quantitative methods and theories being developed and promoted through regional science. The older generation in this group had been trained in the tradition of the arts and crafts movement."

Dudley Stamp - a memorial Volume #2

A second post on the Memorial volume for Dudley Stamp, published by the IBG in 1968.

A final chapter was provided by former GA President Michael Wise.

In it he references the impact that Dudley Stamp on School Geography, including the mention in the TES at the top of this piece in 1955.

It also references the GA and their role in supporting the production of textbooks to set out an 'ideal syllabus'. The influence of the topics chosen back then persist even now. I may have to go back to that AGM to find out more.

There is also reference to Geographical Publications Ltd. set up by Stamp.

New blog from Thalina Chowdhury

It's #SouthAsianHeritageMonth & @The_GA is delighted that #geographyteacher @MissTC19 has blogged about the SAHM's importance for geography. Her blog inc videos from pupils about this work. Thalina is Trust Lead Practitioner of Geography @COREeducate https://t.co/sccoW8Ax3q

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) July 20, 2024

A really useful blog from Thalina Chowdhury. Always look to celebrate the culture within and beyond the school community.

Michael Chisholm - RIP

St. Catharine's College, Cambridge has close connections with a great many prominent geographers, former GA Presidents amongst them.

We heard earlier of the passing of another former lecturer and Fellow Michael Chisholm.

We were sad to learn that Emeritus Fellow Prof. Michael Chisholm FBA (1951, #Geography; Fellow 1976–96), Emeritus Professor @CamUniGeography, died at home in Cambridge on 9 July. Our flag is at half-mast today in his memory: https://t.co/wb15zUqS3q @RGS_IBG pic.twitter.com/GgWHBfrqjq

— St Catharine's College (@Catz_Cambridge) July 16, 2024

Professor Chisholm was admitted to St Catharine’s to read Geography as an undergraduate in 1951. He went on to make fundamental contributions to economic geography and its translation into public policy, including serving on several government commissions. He returned as a Professorial Fellow in 1976, following his election to the 1931 Chair of Geography at the University of Cambridge in 1975. On his retirement in 1996, he became an Emeritus Fellow and turned his attention to advancing our understanding of the drainage and navigation of the Fens throughout history.

Dudley Stamp - a memorial volume #1

Another discovery while following a few leads.

It's a memorial volume to Professor Dudley Stamp.

Can be borrowed from the Internet Archive.

Image: Dudley and Elsa Stamp

It was published in 1968 by the Institute of British Geographers.

The contents are a Who's Who of prominent geographers at the time, 

The first section of the book was written by another former GA President: Robert Ogilvie Buchanan.

He talks about his first encounter with Dudley Stamp.

It talks about his time at the Geographical Association:

More to come in future posts.

1921: Halford Mackinder

I've been doing some reading to prepare for some work in my new role as VP: Education of the Royal Geographical Society.

I came across a speech by Halford MacKinder, delivered in the famous Map Room in 1921.

I was intrigued at the description of the GA as 'the dutiful daughter' of the RGS, asking for 'maternal help'.

This came at a time when the discipline was strong in universities, but not so much in schools.

This led to a report by John Scott Keltie.

I was interested that MacKinder was caned at school for drawing maps.... see below...

"About this time a step had been taken the significance of which was not at first recognized. Mr. Dickinson of Rugby had been using lantern slides in his classroom, and wanted to organize a system of exchanging slides between school and school. 

The Royal Geographical Society referred him to me, and at my invitation the first meeting of the Geographical Association was held at Christ Church, Oxford. Herbertson soon became Secretary of the Association, which under his auspices flourished, and began to publish a journal, the Geographical Teacher."

Source: Mackinder, Halford. “Geography as a Pivotal Subject in Education.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 57, no. 5, 1921, pp. 376–84. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1780845. Accessed 11 July 2024.

GA Conference 1982

I recently had a query about the GA Conference in 1982.

From this description, it seems that due to the LSE being unavailable for the usual period of time (?) the sessions were divided between the LSE and the RGS. It was remembered by a few people in my network, who attended the event.

Here was the report from Conference Officer Barrie Morgan, published in 'Geography'

Annual Conference (Officer: Dr. Barrie S. Morgan)

The Annual Conference was held from 14th- 16th April around the theme "Focus on Europe". This was a new-style Conference since the sessions at LSE were confined to two days, preceded by a late-afternoon and evening session at the RGS. The success of these and attendant innovations were assessed in the report.

Source

Coates, Bryan E., et al. “Annual Report of the Geographical Association 1982.” Geography, vol. 68, no. 2, 1983, pp. 154–61. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40570663. Accessed 9 June 2024.

More to come on this...

Discount for GA members on GIS courses run by the RGS

A new GA member benefit. Another example of some closer working between the GA and the RGS.

There is now an opportunity for GA members to get a discount on GIS courses which are run by the Royal Geographical Society / ESRI UK.

If you ask many teachers what they want training in, they often say either fieldwork / NEAs or GIS. This has been the case for quite some time now. It's also important to say that the GIS skills acquired need to be introduced to students in a co-ordinated way, with progression from the Early Years up to 'A' level (and beyond). 

With that in mind, here are some forthcoming courses that you might want to explore. Perhaps get them booked in before the end of the academic year if you have a little bit of money left in your departmental budget.

One course is actually taking place today in Coventry. 

If you have a group of schools and would like to host an event, please get in touch with the Education team at the RGS-IBG. This is particularly the case if you are not in London - the team is always happy to travel for a suitable group of teachers.

25th September 2024 - London - Kensington - Digimap for Schools

8th October 2024 - London - Kensington - Getting Started with ArcGIS

9th October 2024 - London - Kensington - Going further with ArcGIS

24th October 2024 - University of Leeds - Getting started with ArcGIS

7th November - Exeter School - Going further with ArcGIS

Dates for 2025 will be released later in the year.

These courses are also accredited as counting towards the time evidence and allocation for those who are Chartered Geographers, or are thinking of applying to be a Chartered Geographer.