Why Study Geography

The best way to get an answer to tough questions now-a-days, is to ask Google. So when I was asked to talk about the importance of teaching and studying geography, I went straight to Google.  Google has a funny way of answering questions. Sometimes it seems to answer a question without really giving a real answer. Listen to this one:

“To understand the basic physical system that affects everyday life; like the water cycle and wind and ocean currents.”

Who here understands how wind currents and ocean currents work?Does having this knowledge or not having it affect the way you live and raise your children?

Here’s another non-answer:

            “To understand the uniqueness of the place where we live.”

Again – ‘but why?’ Who can tell me the uniqueness of this place?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a teacher for a few years now and Geography has been one of my favourite things to teach. But we often get stuck with these non-answers as teachers.

“Why teach so-and-so?
Because it’s good for the kids.
How is it good? …”

Fortunately for us, Google has some good answers too! These answers are from the website of the Canadian Geographic Education society:  
     

We study geography,

To learn the location of places and the physical and cultural characteristics of those places in order to function more effectively in our increasingly interdependent world.

To recognize spatial distributions at all scales — local and worldwide — in order to understand the complex connectivity of people and places.

To be able to make sensible judgements about matters involving relationships between the physical environment and society.

To appreciate Earth as the homeland of humankind and provide insight for wise management decisions about how the planet’s resources should be used.

To understand global interdependence and to become a better global citizen.

Those are the real reasons why we teach and learn Geography. Because, in it’s essence, it makes us look away from ourselves. It shows us that the world is massive and different and its people are just as diverse. It plucks us from our insular life and makes us aware of our environment. It helps us plainly see that this beautiful city sprung up centuries ago on the banks of the rivers Mulla and Mutha and if we don’t save our rivers, we’re in big trouble. It helps us plainly see that the mighty Himalayas that stop the monsoon winds from travelling north into China and brings life-giving rains to the Northern fertile belt, also traps the pollution in making the large northern cities some of the most polluted cities in the world. Even studying the oceanic currents helps us see just how fragile the ocean systems are – that even the fluctuation of a few degrees can have chaotic effects.

In short, we teach and learn Geography so that we can live in a better world.

But that can only happen if us teachers help our students to draw these important connects. Geography education must rise above mere fact giving. We must help our students truly see the world. Only then will they grow up and save it.