Chief Executive of the Geographical Association, David Lambert, presented his inaugural Professorial Lecture at the Institute of Education on Tuesday 23 June 2009.
Although David began by suggesting that to some geography might be seen as struggling to find its identity and hence is arguably 'lost in the post' he quickly countered with the premise that contemporary geography is a school subject of great significance.
His lecture was a celebration of a vibrant, exciting subject. If we didn't have geography we would have to invent it. He gave examples from the recent Ipsos Mori poll commissioned for A Different View and other student comments in support of the subject which has a lot to offer children and young people growing up in a confusing, rapidly changing and dangerous world.
Challenging us to think about the purpose of education, he presented a philosophical map for the 'logical geography' of education that developed in three parts: Motivation (creating a need to know); Significance (developing worthwhile learning); Creativity (enabling students to be creative).
Drawing critically on the Geographical Association's recently published 'manifesto' for school geography, A Different View, David talked about the role of subjects as educational resources and all teachers as 'curriculum makers' using the subject in a way that contributes to both their own and their students' 'capabilities'. He argued that 'capability' is not the same as skills but is about choices, how to live, being creative and productive and geography's contribution to developing outward looking, globally minded, future focussed individuals.
He concluded with the idea that in the context of our collective need to understand human occupancy of the Earth more fully, geography in schools has a new role to play and that teachers and students are both important in the process of constructing a geography curriculum for this century.
John Lyon, Programme Director
(25.06.09)
