There are no lines drawn in this map that contradict or confuse the meaning; all is direct, truthful and clear in statement of fact. Each line has its own particular meaning. If represents direction. Applied to land surface, a vertical line means a perpendicular mountain or side wall of plateau, horizontal lines indicate level areas, and oblique lines a sloping surface.
Until recently, this map has not been available for general use, except as each teacher made his or her own. The latter, however, is the ideal way of teaching. To draw a map of a continent or section of it, as is required, in order to illustrate or emphasize any particular point before the class, adds intensely to the interest of the lesson and to the adequacy of concept gained by the pupil.
Too often, however, the opposite course is pursued. The teacher’s conceptions of earth structure are perhaps vague, or, teachers may not have been in the habit of representing by drawings that which they may be able to picture quite clearly in their own minds, even the desirability of so doing may not have been entertained by them.
In fact, there are comparatively few who have been persistent enough to make maps, for though there may be a good knowledge of geography, clear mental pictures of structure and the ability, also, to draw them, yet lack of time necessary for their proper delineation has doubtless often compelled the busy teacher to forego their execution.
Printed Wall Map. The Chalk Modeled map has recently been presented to us in a more durable and serviceable form for general use; a printed wall map, which combines the latest geographical knowledge together with the best available skill in delineation.
It does not embody all the desirable points of the original, yet it has an added one, that of durability.
The introduction of “Nature Study” into the public schools has contributed largely to the demand for such a map. Pupils brought into close relations with nature, naturally seek to relate the knowledge gained in this basic study of geography, to the map; as in connection with the field lessons, after actual observation of surface areas, the student is led to model or draw what he has seen. This he represents in pictorial form, as it appears to him, or he charts or maps it from actual measurements.
Sometimes he tries to combine these methods so as to show elevations as altitudes on his map or chart, but the results are often very crude; a mere representation of hills and mountains piled up on level ground.