All Ages How important is Geography in your school?

pandandesign

pandandesign

Legacy Member
I remember Geography was one of the important classes that students were required to take upon graduation. The class was more than the geographical lessons of the country but as well as foreign countries as well. I have learned a lot in this class because it talked about other cultures and the way people would communicate in their country. How important is Geography in your school?
 
There is a lot of emphasis placed on Geography in the school system where my children are enrolled, but I often wonder why there is a lot of emphasis put on it. I think it's important to know where things are in the world, but is it important enough to require a student to take an entire semester long class for it? I struggle to see the practicality of the course if cartography or other location based career isn't the chosen field. I think that this is better left as a college level class to be taught where applicable.
 
During high school geography wasn't really that important.... pretty much no one took or cared about the course. Most teenagers in high school do not take geography after 10th grade. It's not really helpful in terms of a university application, unless your program specifies it, which very very few do. I'd say geography is fading, and quite fast at that.
 
I agree. I think not only Geography is starting to fade as part of the required class in most schools, but I think courses like Physical Education as well because most schools try to make students to focus on their school works. Physical Education should be an optional class rather than a required class just like Geography. They maybe good for those who are interested to learn, but I don't think they should be counted as the required classes.[DOUBLEPOST=1389161453][/DOUBLEPOST]I agree. I think not only Geography is starting to fade as part of the required class in most schools, but I think courses like Physical Education as well because most schools try to make students to focus on their school works. Physical Education should be an optional class rather than a required class just like Geography. They maybe good for those who are interested to learn, but I don't think they should be counted as the required classes.
 
I agree. I think not only Geography is starting to fade as part of the required class in most schools, but I think courses like Physical Education as well because most schools try to make students to focus on their school works. Physical Education should be an optional class rather than a required class just like Geography. They maybe good for those who are interested to learn, but I don't think they should be counted as the required classes.[DOUBLEPOST=1389161532][/DOUBLEPOST]I agree. I think not only Geography is starting to fade as part of the required class in most schools, but I think courses like Physical Education as well because most schools try to make students to focus on their school works. Physical Education should be an optional class rather than a required class just like Geography. They maybe good for those who are interested to learn, but I don't think they should be counted as the required classes.
 
Geography was not a big deal at my high school. I took it in my freshman year and that was the end of it. It was the same in college, i took it one year and never again. It has never been a multi-year requirement at any school that i have attended.
 
pandandesign said:
I remember Geography was one of the important classes that students were required to take upon graduation. The class was more than the geographical lessons of the country but as well as foreign countries as well. I have learned a lot in this class because it talked about other cultures and the way people would communicate in their country. How important is Geography in your school?
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Geography wasn't given too much attention in my school. Up until the end of Middle School it was like one third of another subject called Social Studies. Students are given the option of doing it as an entire subject in Secondary School. But it isn't very popular as there aren't enough resources.
 
I took it during middle school and like Qraqq mentioned it was called Social Studies where it wasn't solely just about geography. I went to an IB school so you had it as an option. You were supposed to pick two out of the lot; Geography, Psychology, Economics and History. But I've never been interested in the subject and always hated it so I went with Psychology and Economics. But a lot of my friends opted for Geography cause they thought it was an easy subject.
 
Apparently my it was very tough as a final year Secondary School subject during my father era, the '70s. I guess you need to have an inclination towards it to fully appreciate the subject.

The people who do chose to do it over here do so mainly because Geography's allocated more preferential points when University admission is concerned.
 
Sadly my school didn't put much emphasis on geography back then. I think it's important to nurture the interest for something from a young age, because as you grow older, it's harder to learn and absorb additional knowledge and information as quick as you used to. I believed that is the reason why I am weak in geography back then.
 
Unfortunately, it really doesn't hold much value here. A lot of history and geography is definitions and tests rather than actual learning. It's disappoint, to be honest. As a fan of geography, I'd like to have more interactive studies, not pointless teachings I'll forget in a few weeks time.
 
When I was in school, 70s & 80s, it was a core class. Some schools lumped it together with history as Social Studies. My children looked at me like I am crazy when I asked them if they had any geography lessons incorporated into any of their classes. I had them study maps at home. It was better than nothing and better than having children who had no idea where Africa is in relation to Iceland. It was important that they gain some understanding of countries, climates and the people who live there.
 
Geography in my school was nonexistent. It's sad. I know all the states in my own country, but I can only point out "famous" areas in other countries. But at this point since I am a freshman in college, maybe I should take my own initiative to learn. I wish things were not half done in schools. If you're going to teach students something, do it the correct way.
 
Geography is very important because it enables one to have a three dimensional view of the world we live in. It also enables one to develop tolerance of different cultures and economic activities. Since travel is costly, one can travel to distant lands when studying Geography from the comfort of his seat.
 
When I was still a student, Geography was pretty much an integral part of our studies. I remember having has to memorize continents and countries for our practical tests. I can still see the emphasis now that my child is in school. As early as grade 1, they are now being introduced to our country map. I think it's a good thing though because my child is showing a lot of interest and curiosity with Geography so learning about it more in school is a plus. :)
 
In my university, at least, it's pretty important, and a lot of students want to take geography classes. I think it should be important and should be a core class in school curricula - because geography isn't just about learning what's on a map. There are various aspects to geography as well, like political geography or social geography. If we want our society to raise well-rounded and self-aware youth, then I think geography is an important class to teach to them. :)
 
For us it is an important subject from the elementary to the first two years of secondary schooling. After which it is optional.

Geography is an important subject through which a lot of real life travel is understood.
 
In the UK geography is still an integral part of the school curriculum so in that respect it's still important and students will have to take that class and be tested on it at the end of their schooling. As for if it's important in the real world then I'm not all that sure really. There aren't many people that will use what they learn in geography in every day life, and while I think people should obviously know about the different countries of the world, unless you plan on a career that involves geography then that's about all you need to know.

If you look at a students schedule and see that they have 3 hours worth of geography a week, could them 3 hours be filled with a subject that's more important and one that they would actually use. I think it could be, but then again, having said that I'm not a geography teacher so I'm sure that they would say something entirely different!
 
Geography is a science very important to know where we live and the main agents that they have been influencing our space since the beginning of the times. Moreover, Geography studies economics aspects, especially comercial, industry and others. Geography is a fundamental science for life.
 
I hаtеd Gеоgrаphy.
Thаt might hаvе sоmеthing tо dо with thе fасt thаt my bооks nеvеr dеаlt with it vеry wеll аnd my tеасhеr nеvеr thоught muсh.
оr mаybе it's just plаin pеrsоnаl prеfеrеnсе.
еithеr wаy, I'll bе glаd whеn I dоn't hаvе tо dо it аnymоrе.
 
I think mаny sсhооls in thе UK аrе plасing а hеаvy еmphаsis аnd prеfеrеnсе fоr mаthеmаtiсs, еnglish аnd sсiеnсеs. Dеspitе bеing а sсiеnсе itsеlf Gеоgrаphy is viеwеd аs sесоndаry pаrtly bесаusе in mоst stаtе mаintаinеd sсhооls, it is tаught соmpulsоrily up until KS3, аftеr wоuld It is tаkеn аs аn оptiоnаl subjесt fоr KS4 (GсSе) Whеn dесiding оn а humаnitiеs оptiоn Its usuаlly histоry ОR Gеоgrаphy thаt is сhоsеn. Whеrеаs yоur соrе subjесts (mаthеmаtiсs, еnglish аnd sсiеnсе аrе соmpulsоry) . Fоr this rеаsоn thе quаlity оf tеасhing аnd lеаrning within gеоgrаphy is rеduсеd bесаusе thе rigоrоus mоnitоring сhесks оffеrеd in соrе subjесts , аlоng with оbsеrvаtiоns аnd оthеr СPD оppоrtunitiеs аrе nоt аlwаys оffеrеd with gеоgrаphy... This rеspоnsе is bаsеd оn pеrsоnаl еxpеriеnсе
 
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