Posted on 04/30/2003 6:37:27 AM PDT by yankeedame
Survey Says
A National Geographic study released [in November] found that only about one in seven Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could find Iraq [on a map]. Although 58% knew that the Taliban and al Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17% could find that country.
The survey asked 56 geographic and current events questions of young people in nine countries.
Americans got an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21. Topping the scoring was Sweden, with an average of 40, followed by Germany and Italy, each with 38.
Other findings: When asked to find 10 specific states on a map of the U.S., only California and Texas could be located by a large majority. Only 51% could find New York.
On a world map, Americans could find on average only 7 of 16 countries in the quiz. Only 89% of the Americans surveyed could find their own country.
Only 71% of the surveyed Americans could locate the Pacific Ocean.
--Paul Recer, Associated Press
(And, while we're on the subject this from USA Today/Forbes)
"No idea in politics has hurt children more than the false and misleading idea that the quality of education is determined by how much we spend.
"More than 35 years after Congress passed the first Elementary and Secondary Education Act, public school spending per pupil has more than doubled--even when adjusted for inflation--from $3,331 in 1965-1966 to $8,194 in 2000-2001.
" In fact, the federal government has spent more than $321 billion on education programs since 1965. Every year, spending on K-12 education by all levels of government exceeds $400 billion.
"Yet, citizens must ask, what have we gotten for all this? Fewer than a third of fourth-graders can read proficiently.
"No, the problem isn't--and never has been--money alone. This is just the most tired of all excuses. If there is no account-ability, or schools use unproven fads for instruction, it doesn't matter how much money is thrown at a problem; it will be wasted."
--Rod Paige, Secretary of Education
For instance, in location some countries, the map numbers are somewhat ambiguous. Sweden's number and Norway's are distinguishable, but not because either is particularly enclosed by its country alone - only 16% in the US got it right. Israel's is in the eastern Med, with a tiny line to the sliver of country itself on a whole world map - only 21% in the US got it right. The Pacific Ocean is split by the projection and labeled with the number 30 twice - most still got it right.
There was also a clear difference between factual information questions and media hype questions. Populations of countries stumped the kiddies. Europeans got a question about El Nino very wrong, undoubtedly answering "global warming". A question about how common AIDs is in different continents obviously has Africa for its correct answer, and most got it right; the definition used to diagnose it is looser there. A question about the Taliban and Al Quada does not leave room for one to believe Al Quada is really centered in Saudi Arabia.
What did they get right? Own and neighboring countries on the map, oil in the mideast, AIDs, Pacific ocean, read "west" on a map, lower "grades" but still majorities found great powers, Taliban (but not Kashmir), Christianity as the most common religion.
My diagnosis is that nobody is teaching factual geography, certainly not with numbers, and instead the respondants are getting all of their information from media hype, especially recent media hype, PC hot buttons, party lines. Political parties and modern ideologies get through with their megaphones. There is no factual data on the receiving end, beyond the most basic, with which to filter or make informed judgments about the resulting "issues".
Or, more briefly, if it isn't on TV it does not exist...
Thus his pile of precision maps, surveilance photos and referencing phone numbers from the joyful female demographic of Rio's nude beaches.
He was working the project in a skillful, extrapolating way. Start with the young women, move to the nude beaches and then find Brazil. Devilishly clever. No wonder you married him!
I don't believe that, since a person who can read could easily locate the Pacific Ocean on a map, regardless of his knowledge of geography. There is no way that 30% of the country is illiterate...
Only 85% of Americans can locate the Pacific Ocean? Well, maybe the other 15% were shown a scavenger hunt map of Grampa Dickman's buried and strangely smelly backyard treasures.
"Can you locate the Pacific Ocean on this Map?" "No, it's a map of the surface of Jupiter's moon Titan." "So that's a no."
See, I'm powerful' confident that anyone who can't demonstrate mastery of colorful and exotic world maps has NO clue about anything but that "mouthy bitch bad talking Judge Mathis"
But how could this be?
One of our major national characteristic shortcomings was primarily responsible for the cavalcade of foolish, arrogant decisions based on ignorance of geography, foreign history, languages, culture, Asian contexts, strategies, even when backed up with the best in technological prowess.
Knowledge of the Outside World DOES count. Take it from me. To proceed otherwise is to do it blindfolded. I join with quite a number of Senators and Congressmen of both parties that say the 'dumbing down' must stop! and the bar must be raised. The NEA or AFT will not get it done for us, either. There have to be other ways to reduce the 'moron' percentages in modern America.
Land. Ours. Territory. Good. You go.
Stupidity should be taxed!
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