Industrial geography issues in secondary schools geography syllabuses, selected teaching programmes and textbooks

Abstract

This research employed the comparative analysis method in order to determine the range of industrial geography issues in secondary schools geography teaching programmes and textbooks. The aim of the research was to identify the factors that determine the choice and presentation methods of topics in industrial geography. The quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted on the basis of a query of currently used state-approved teaching programmes and textbooks in geography for secondary schools (gymnasium, general, specialized, and technical secondary schools). In total, 15 programmes and 15 textbooks were analysed at the level of lower-secondary school, and 10 programmes and 10 textbooks at the level of upper-secondary schools. Generally, the issues in industrial geography are included in the II- and III-form programmes of both lower- and upper-secondary schools. The amount of time that the teacher can devote to industrial geography topics is rather small, and most often equals from 1 to 3 classes. Therefore it is crucial that the syllabuses and textbooks treat these issues in accordance with the contemporary trends in geography teaching methodology and with the industrial geography scientific state of the art. This article investigates how these assumptions are realized in relation to the industrial geography issues in the syllabuses, teaching programmes and textbooks.