Thanks to Susan I learned this tonight:
Poll Shows Many Can't Find La. on MapBy RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press WriterTuesday, May 2, 2006(05-02) 07:06 PDT WASHINGTON,
(AP) --Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn't locate Louisiana on a map and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi. Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn't find Iraq, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic. "Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates usfrom the world," National Geographic president John Fahey said in announcing a program to help remedy the problem. It's hoping to enlist businesses, nonprofit groups and educators in a bid to improve geographic literacy. Planned is a five-year, multimedia campaign called My Wonderful World that will target children 8 to 17. The goal is to motivate parents and educators to expand geographic offerings in school, at home and in their communities. They will have their task cut out for them, judging by the results of the survey of 510 people interviewed in December and January. Among the findings:
- One-third of respondents couldn't pinpoint Louisiana on a map and 48 percent were unable to locate Mississippi.
- Fewer than three in 10 think it important to know the locations of countries in the news and just 14 percent believe speaking another language is a necessary skill.
- Two-thirds didn't know that the earthquake that killed 70,000 people in October 2005 occurred in Pakistan.
- Six in 10 could not find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.
- While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.
- While Israeli-Palestinian strife has been in the news for the entire lives of the respondents, 75 percent were unable to locate Israel on a map of the Middle East.
- Nearly three-quarters incorrectly named English as the most widely spoken native language.
- Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.
Joining in the effort to improve geographic knowledge will be the 4-H, American Federation of Teachers, Asia Society, Association of American Geographers, National Basketball Association, National Council of La Raza, National PTA, Smithsonian Institution and others. "Geography exposes children and adults to diverse cultures, different ideas and the exchange of knowledge from around the world," said Anna Marie Weselak, president of the National PTA. "This campaign will help make sure our children get their geography - so they can become familiar with other cultures during their school years and move comfortably and confidently in a global economy as adults."
posted by Sara @ 12:43 am
4 Comments:
I know what you're gonna say Pete, "kids don't learn geography in school any more"
so yet again I ask:
"WHAT do they learn???"
Nope, I'm going to say that currently, most Americans (and by that I mean USA citizens), could give a damn about where any other country is located. Americans are just too damn self centered to really give a damn about anything but themselves.
I know Brits who can name all 50 states & capitals, yet American's don't know where LA is?!?!?
Yeah I hear ya on the self centered, but to not even know where LA and MI are, hello their our OWN country?!?!??!
All I can say is it's a sad state of affairs!!
Yes, and that arrogance/ignorance makes them think that English is the most widely spoken language; and to make them not care about where other countries are. And we are proud of our education system??? Yes, it is a said state of affairs. Mommio
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