The aims of teaching Geography are intimately connected with the functions and values. Geography teaching aims at nothing less than an understanding of the inter-action of the vast natural environments on the surface of the earth on entire humanity.

The aims and objectives of teaching of Geography can be categorized into three main heads:

(1) Practical Aim or Value;

(2) Cultural and Intellectual Aim;

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(3) Social or Citizenship Aim.

(1) Practical Aim or Value

Nobody can dispute the claims of geography as a subject which has a great deal of practical value. Now geography enters into modern business life. The lack of geographical knowledge may ruin the commercial or industrial enterprise. The exporter must possess geographical knowledge or else he may carry coal to Newcastle. So, geographical knowledge is evident even in our ordinary life to understand the natural phenomena like climate changes, earthquakes, change in social and their productivity.

The administrators should pose geographical knowledge. Very often his political and economic policy is determined by geographical factors. It is useful even for the internal progress and prosperity of the country. Roads, canals, railways etc. can be built only if the administration knows pretty well the physical features of the area.

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Geographical knowledge is necessary to understand the inter-dependence of human beings in the world. Also it gives an idea of difficulties and opportunities of the people living in other lands and how they solve the problems of their food and dress.

That all invaders into India had come by the North-western passes has a geographical explanation. The people of India have been the most religious minded people of the world is again a geographical factor.

The chief aim of teaching geography is that it provides mental discipline. Geography encourages independence of thought and action. The mental discipline comes through application of scientific attitude in distinguishing facts, interpreting their effects and drawing correct conclusions and inferences.

2. Cultural and Intellectual Aim

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(a) Geography has a cultural aim too. It sharpens child’s instinct to know the unknown, to see the unseen and to fathom the unfathomed.

(b) Geography when properly taught, afford excellent opportunities for exercising observation and memory. It tends to establish certain scientific habits of thinking and reasoning by presenting facts. Here the pupils require the ability to compare to generalize and to conclude.

(c) Geography still has another special function to perform. From the study of different people of the world, the pupils know the contributions of each nation towards world culture.

(d) Geography teaching also makes pupils realize inter­dependence of mankind. Thus a sympathetic attitude is to be developed among pupils when they find similarity of needs all over the world. It further explains to them that the difference in the physical character of the pupil of the world is due to variations in their environments.

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(3) Social or Citizenship Aim

(a) Geography offers many possibilities for developing sympathy for the lives and problems of other people. Really, it develops in the pupils a social sympathy, a feeling of relationship to others.

(b) Geography teaching enables the child to leave his self- centered isolation and to realize that there is a bigger human world beyond his narrow circle of living and that he is a member of this world.

(c) Geography helps pupils appraise their real worth. Every person, no matter what type of intelligence he possesses has a place in the society. It is good for the society to keep persons of different skills and calibers. The geography teacher should help pupils to discover their latent qualities and to take pride in their talents.

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(d) A child’s mind is fresh to receive instructions right from the start. Whatever is imparted to him at this formative stage, it is permanently stamped. The Geography teacher should develop a constructive attitude towards all that concerns his country.

(e) The instinct of love is inborn in a human being. The first requisite of creating love for one’s country is to make him know it thoroughly. The teachers of Geography should sublimate this basic instinct by laying honestly before the pupils the interests, aspirations and traditions of his country.

(f) The teachers of Geography should make pupils realize that it is not possible to maintain the same standards of comfort all over the world, and that it necessitates living on a basis of international cooperation and understanding.

(g) Thus geography lays down the foundation for a solution of the economic, social and political problems. Knowledge of geography bridges the gap and helps in avoiding conflicts by bringing about international understanding. The advancement of a nation is measured by the services it renders to other nations.