FREDERICK HUNG (1906 -1988)

Dr. Frederick Hung died suddenly after a heart attack on April 5, 1988. He was the founding Chair of the Geography Department at the Univesity of Guelph, and a former Chair of the Geography Department, United College, now The University of Winnipeg.     

Constructing the subject: geographical models in English schools, 1870–1944

Between 1870 and 1944, three-dimensional models of the world's physical and human features were widely and regularly used by teachers of school geography in England. Whilst visually striking, models also provided tangible illustrations of geographical phenomena which were said to transform abstract notions into concrete realities. Suggestions that geographical models were of greatest educational value when built by pupils themselves were endorsed by increasingly influential theoretical arguments in favour of “natural” and “child-centred” education. The co-ordination of hand and eye activity which modelling required was considered an especially potent means of stimu-lating rational deductive thought and powers of imagination, vital prerequisites of “thinking geographically”. The first half of this paper discusses models as media for demonstrating geographical principles to children. Model-making by the pupils themselves is addressed in its second section. The theoretical assumptions underlying models' widespread adoption for each purpose are explored and examples of their use discussed. Particular attention is paid to their perceived effects in helping to build English children's understanding of their individual and collective place as local, national, Imperial or global citizens of the world.