Posted on 09/02/2010 2:37:28 PM PDT by BruceDeitrickPrice
I confess--I had never heard the phrase "the Queen of the Sciences" until a few months ago. Even when I read it, it made no sense. They seemed to be talking about geography. What was all this???
Apparently, the wise and scholarly had much more respect for geography a thousand years ago than we do now. Once you start thinking about this decline--from Queen to corpse--you gain new insight into how radical (in the worst sense) our Education Establishment is.
These people never saw a fact they didn't want to drop overboard in a deep part of the ocean.
So I started thinking about WHY? What were all the reasons? I came up with four and wrote the linked article. I think you'll find it interesting. But the bigger picture is that we've got to reverse this whole destructive process. The brain wants information. Kids need facts.
Geography is a litmus test for schools. If a school is teaching a reasonable amount of geography, you know it's a good school. If not, then not. Geography is the point man (if a Queen can be so designated) for all foundational knowledge. That's what we need to start teaching again.
Facts are fun. Knowledge is power. With these two guiding principles, good schools result almost automatically.
Public schools have a hundred gimmicks to hide how ignorant their kids are. Critical thinking! Projects and portfolios! Common Core Standards! Constructivism! Creativity Curriculum! It's a long list. Sound and fury not signifying much. Tell you what. Let's put a bunch of ninth graders in front of a map. I submit we could measure their entire educational progress by just this simple request: Please point to Japan... Spain....Alaska...Panama.
If half the class couldn't do all four, then the principal would be reassigned to teaching first grade. We would see such a frenzy of improvement.
Article title: "Four Reason Why Educators Hate Geography"
http://www.rantrave.com/Rant/Four-Reasons-Why-Educators-Hate-Geography.aspx
.
If they teach Geography at all, then it must be under Current Events.
What with all the new names for cities and countries they keep coming up with.
Colleges and Universities began closing down their Geography departments sometime after World War II.
I may be wrong but the graduate programs were the first to go. Then slowy the undergraduate programs disappeared.
Colleges and Universities began closing down their Geography departments sometime after World War II.
I may be wrong but the graduate programs were the first to go. Then slowy the undergraduate programs disappeared.
Geography is redundant in many cases. It is a mish mash of geology, economics, sociology and other fields.
What is unique about geography is cartography/remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems.
Hard to say...but it was confirmed when we were told there were “57 states” by our pResident.
I have not heard it called the “Queen of Sciences” since I was in college, getting a degree in geology. The article is right.
Because most US Americans don't have maps?
-PJ
Well, one would then know that California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas is on the Mexican border;
…and ILLEGAL ALIENS from the Federal States of Mexico have their own country, society and homes to live.
Further, one would also know where Israel is and surrounded by self-described sworn enemies called Arabs; when combined with history, one would also know that Arabs representing the precepts of Islam are nothing more than murderous societies.
Great POST! Greater Question! I remember back in the late 70s-early 80s when my Mom, a 4th grade school teacher, was all upset about the elimination of her geography curriculum for the new “social studies” - beginning of the end. The Lefties took over the Education schools at the universities, and their evil spread downstream to our precious children.
On a personal note, I took an elective geography course my senior of high school in 1965(rather than Trig) - my teacher was Masters-prepared (not an assistant football coach, either). I was completely enthralled and ended up getting a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Geography just about the time most all the high schools were eliminating it from their curriculum - lucky me - no teaching jobs! Nevertheless, I use what I learned on a daily basis in my job as a hospital planner.
I disagree with you about the uniqueness of geography as worthy subject matter for study — but as a former cartographer (pen & ink/Leroy lettering set, etc), I am thrilled with GIS and the commercial offshoots that make my work life way more efficient and effective.
A lot of subjects were eliminated. In the “race and sex” equality in outcome scam, subjects where memorization skills were eliminated. That would be geography, for one. Also geography studies favors those with an inate sense of direction. Therefore it is not “equal.”
The mechanics of the English language and writing was eliminated for the same reason.
Civics were eliminated because liberals wanted to “overcome” the constraints of constitutional freedom. It is better for National Socialists (fascists) and Marxists if Americans don’t know what freedoms are being stripped and what power is being abused.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
excellent article and your comment here also adds a lot.
IOW the Schools of Education became much worse a few
school generations after the government Student Loans
program was legislated. That’s a key to reversing the
decay; when (I said when, not if) that funding goes.
Someone mentioned Alaska. Every single one of those girls believed Alaska was an island off the coast of southern California.
No joke. They were adamant. They laughed at our son who said Alaska was connected to Canada way up north.
The girls laughed again. They couldn't believe he was so dumb about geography. They reminded him of the maps in their history books that showed Hawaii and Alaska in boxes to the bottom left of the 48 states.
They want our kids stupid and compliant.
This began with the anticipated decline of the British Empire, the rapid independence of former colonies, new nations and the demise of the USSR.
Expedient to describe continents rather than countries.
Look at the weather map on TV ... the weather on the weather map stops with Canada and Mexico. Ever (if you are in the USA) see a radar pattern for Montreal? Why isn't there weather in Canada or Mexico ... let alone Brazil or Chile? Also, if you get a chance to watch "weather" when you are globe trotting, you'll see a darned fine geography lesson. Here I tout CNN International. They start with the HEMISPHERE, then come down to CONTINENTS then focus in on hot spots. A heck of a geography lesson.
Our kids here are not sure what's on the other side of the border, its never discussed and rarely even named on a map. Our side of the border is always green and blue and colorful, what about those areas beyond the USA? Gray, drab, no features, and obviously no weather, maybe Canada or Mexico aren't even there! In the USA, the Weather Channel is the only geography teacher left. But the rest of the world gets CNN International! It is easy to see why kids in the "other" parts of the world (those places never seen on the Weather Channel) are far better at geography.
See? Weather Channel's fault! Told 'ya so!
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