Biography and RealismAuthor(s): Hugh MasonSource: Area, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Jun., 1988), pp. 191-192Published by: The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20002602 .

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IBG Annual Conference 191

Teaching Historical Geography This year the session organised by the Historical Geography Research Group focused on teaching. The opening paper by Felix Driver (Exeter) offered an encouraging analysis of the central importance of an historical understanding to all geography. In challenging the con ventional division between contemporary human geography and historical study he raised im portant questions for the structuring of teaching. Dennis Hardy (Middlesex) also pointed to the potential for the integration of historical geography teaching with that in related fields. In particular he outlined the links with historians and planners that underlay the design of a projected course in Heritage Studies. The papers by Driver and Hardy, together with the comments made by Charles Withers (St Paul and St Mary, Cheltenham) about the academic context within which all courses are taught, made an effective counterbalance to the rather gloomy conclusions of the poster paper by David Kirby (Huddersfield Poly). His analysis of CNAA validated degree courses suggested that historical geography was perceived as having only a marginal role.

The perennial issue of the degree of stress to be placed on the use and understanding of source materials provoked discussion-particularly following the presentation by Tim Unwin (RHBNC) outlining the design of the courses he currently teaches. The introduction of students to the analysis of sources through the use of computers was the theme of the paper by Humphrey Southall (QMC). It was claimed that a computer data base offered a unique opportunity to give students real experience of research although subsequent audience comment revealed con tinued support for the more traditional methods of archive-based field weeks. The joint presen tation by Denis Cosgrove (Loughborough) and Steven Daniels (Nottingham) also focussed on the importance of fieldwork. They outlined the philosophy behind their own course in northern Italy- the sense of fieldwork as a magical participatory experience for students rather than a narrow exercise in data gathering.

As a counterpoint to discussion of contemporary teaching methods the splendidly idiosyn cratic performance by Mike Heffernan (Loughborough) offered a glimpse of the past. His analysis of nineteenth century practices stressed the use of history and geography in French schools to inculcate national pride-and its imperialist counterpart in England.

Martin Purvis College of St Paul and St Mary, Cheltenham

Biography and Realism This all-day meeting was organised by the History and Philosophy of Geography Study Group. The morning session featured a film in which Prof. M R G Conzen described his life and the development of his ideas as a geographer in conversation with Terry Slater and Jeremy

Whitehand (Birmingham). Prof. Conzen's approach and philosophy were intertwined with reminiscences about people, events and places: perhaps the most striking being of his first introduction to Alnwick. Anne Buttimer (Lund) led a spirited discussion about the values and limitations of the filmed biography: a discussion which revealed the wide range of thoughts and experiences which had been generated by the film. Three more conventional papers followed. J P Dickenson (Liverpool) described the work of Walter Bates, assistant to the RGS whose subtle influence spread far beyond the confines of his office and the rather prosaic work which he undertook. J M Wagstaff (Southampton) examined the influence of Colonel Leake in the foun dation of the R G S and the reasons for his later distancing himself from the work of the society. B S Hoyle (Southampton) described the work of Clement Gillman whose work in Tanganyika extended over both the German and British periods. He portrayed a self-opinionated, irascible but thorough geographer whose detailed knowledge of the country stood in contrast to fashionable and fanciful ideas.

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192 IBG Annual Conference

In the afternoon Andrew Sayer (Sussex) and John Allen (Open U) gave solo performances on the theme of Realism whilst counterpoint was provided by a duet by Elspeth Graham (St

Andrews) and David Livingstone (Belfast). Andrew Sayer stressed the realist approach of developing beyond empirical research to discover necessary relationships endowed with causal powers. John Allen examined the philosophical basis for transcendental realism and emphasised that it was a mode of enquiry and not a template for applying to data. The philosophical basis was further examined by Elspeth Graham and David Livingstone who questioned, on the basis of theories of truth, whether transcendental realists were truly metaphysical realists. The papers left little time for discussion but a number of the interested reconvened after tea to argue in a friendly fashion about levels of realism, points of departure and practical adequacy.

Hugh Mason Portsmouth Polytechnic

Restructuring public services-the impact on employment

The objective of this session, which was jointly organised by the Industrial Activity and Area Development Study Group and the Political Geography Study Group, was to examine the impact of recent public sector restructuring in the UK-notably that resulting from the

Government's recent legislation on competitive tendering and privatisation-on employment numbers and composition. Despite the significance of the public sector as a source of employ ment, this topic has been largely overlooked in recent geographical studies of local labour markets.

The first paper, by Philip Pinch (Reading), examined the effects on employment resulting from the 1980 Local Government Planning and Land Act which sought to impose commercial disciplines on local authority direct labour organisations by requiring them to compete for contracts. This has led to changes in the composition of the labour force, and new methods of working practices, supervision and wage payments. However, case studies of Swindon and Reading indicated that the precise outcomes varied between areas as a result of local mediating factors. The effects on employment of various financially-motivated internal reorganisations

within the Welsh Water Authority were examined by Alan Patterson (Reading). Through a study of the accounts and billing department he showed that the geographical changes in the location of workplaces associated with the changing divisional structures were used to achieve cost reductions through a reduction in the number of jobs, changes in the composition of employment and significant changes in work practices.

The remaining two papers examined the National Health Service. John Mohan (QMC) reviewed the employment implications of current Government policies. He noted the separ ate effects of rationalisation, intensification, technical change and the sub-contracting of ancillary services on the number of jobs and the composition of the labour force. Steven Pinch and Stephen Witt (Southampton) provided a detailed examination of the Southampton and District Health Authority to illustrate how local labour market conditions and local administrative structures have affected the precise form of restructuring and its effect on em ployment.

The papers in the session confirmed the usefulness of restructuring notions normally applied to private-sector organisations, but emphasised the need to further expand the notion of public sector restructuring. They also highlighted the existence of' locality effects' in public sector restructuring. These issues represent key elements in a research agenda which is likely to increase in significance with the probable acceleration in public sector restructuring in the next few years as a result of forthcoming legislation, notably relating to competitive tendering.

Colin Mason University of Southampton

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