What`s happening to Geography in schools?

[Snowy Owl]

Yet again, the exam results (A level and GCSE) show a decline in the numbers taking Geography. As a former teacher of the subject, I was wondering if anyone can throw any light on the subject`s demise.

[naz_nomad]

I'd be more concerned about the apparent demise of English in our schools, judging by what we see on this site.

But you do have a valid point. When I took O & A Levels, we were only just beginning to see ''Computer Studies'', and I suppose the I.T. subjects have taken over now.

I mean, why do kids today need Geography, or History, when they've got Google?

[Snowy Owl]

Hi naz,

It`s not just on this site that the appalling lack of English skills shows up. Some posters on one site that I visit regularly don`t seem to have any idea about punctuation, capital letters or spelling. I guess that texting has a lot to do with this, plus the fact they don`t get corrected at school.

Back to the Geographical side.....a friend of mine phoned the Foreign Office the other day in an attempt to help her daughter who was stranded in Tahiti. The person who took the call had NO IDEA where it was! Was it in America? I could go on, but I think that you get the gist!!!

[Catso]

I suppose it's going the same way as every other subject. Down the pan.

[mosesg]

It would be a shame to see this subject vanish. Geography was my favourite subject at school and it wasn't just about where places are!!!!!

It was interesting to learn about the weather and soil etc.

I did a project for my higher geography on the effect of tourism on the flora & fauna of my local area

So I think anyone looking to go into the enviromental side should consider this a useful subject

[higgirach]

Well I'm taking geography at A level and i know that the number of students taking it at my school is quite high!

Also, in reply to some of the comments on this saying that people on this site do not use excellent english, id say that do you not think its because we are on the internet. This is a relaxed environment where shortened words are used for speed. Accuracy is not needed here, it doesnt mean that people dont know how to use it, its just acceptable here not to!

[minti]

On the spelling/grammar side, it's probably because people can't type.

As for geography, I remember when my children were at school it was all to do with platelets (??) and earthquakes and, yes, soil and stuff which we all found very boring (overseeing the homework was a chore).

[Snowy Owl]

Thank you all for your comments, I was particularly pleased to see higgerach`s comment about their school. I have to admit to finding soils boring, but physical geography/meterology/social geography had so much more meaning for me....all those years ago doing `A`level.

I shall not get into the English debate......not my subject!