OUTREACH TO PRECOLLEGIATE AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHERS: THE UTILITY OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY THEMES ∗

∗I wish to acknowledge the important contributions to this project of the following academic geographers and high school teachers: Sari Bennett, Carville Earle, David Meyer, Irene Nebiker, Richard Nostrand, David Wishart, Richard Clifford, and George Coon.

Abstract

The utility of introducing historical geography topics into pre-college American history courses is explored through surveys of social studies teachers in New England and at a meeting of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). Many history teachers claim to use geography in their courses, but use mostly map skills, place locations, and determinism. History teachers are interested in materials and workshops on historical geography themes, however, and sample, materials were well received by teachers in attendance at a national and a regional conference.

Key Words:

• geographic education
• historical geography
• outreach mechanisms

Notes

∗I wish to acknowledge the important contributions to this project of the following academic geographers and high school teachers: Sari Bennett, Carville Earle, David Meyer, Irene Nebiker, Richard Nostrand, David Wishart, Richard Clifford, and George Coon.