Young Americans Geographically Illiterate

[tocqueville]

Young Americans Geographically Illiterate, Survey Suggests
John Roach
for National Geographic News

May 2, 2006
Young adults in the United States fail to understand the world and their place in it, according to a survey-based report on geographic literacy released today.

Take Iraq, for example. Despite nearly constant news coverage since the war there began in 2003, 63 percent of Americans aged 18 to 24 failed to correctly locate the country on a map of the Middle East. Seventy percent could not find Iran or Israel.
........................

Half could not find New York State on a map of the United States.

A third of the respondents could not find Louisiana, and 48 percent couldn't locate Mississippi on a map of the United States, even though Hurricane Katrina put these southeastern states in the spotlight in 2005.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/0502_060502_geography.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/0502_060502_geography_2.html

test yourself here

http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/question_01.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Well, shit, why put the qualifiers "young" and "geographically"?

:7

[cali]

2. I blush to confess this but

I'm incredibly bad at reading maps no matter how hard I try.

[Xipe Totec]

3. It's tough to secure borders,

when you can't find them on a map.

Ironic isn't it?

[hobbit709]

4. A few years ago

40% of the high school students surveyed couldn't locate the United States on an outline map of the continents.

[meowfire]

5. Well at least I'm 25 years old

That fixes the problem right? ;)

[FloridaPat]

6. These stories have been going around for decades. We're bad

at georgraphy period. Those of us older ones at least have the excuse that the names of most of the countries have changed since we studied the world globe.

In 1971 I took a govenment class. We did US geography. We had to fill in the states with names. Two guys from Colorado asked me which state was Washington DC. Americans just have to get out more.

[bumblebee1]

16. I got one for you.

At the time, I was living in southern California. I was on a bus heading to San Diego to work a Guns-n-Roses concert. The guys on the bus were talking. I then heard one guy as "Is Washington state near Philadelphia?" The first thought that crossed my mind was "Were you out sick when U.S. geography was being taught?"

[izzie]

7. I learned in in grade school during WW2 so-----

I really get some of these countries mixed up with old ones. Same place but I have forgot the new name and that the place was cut up. Like Fr, Indo-China.Even as a kid I was always getting all these groups of Island mixed up and we had to follow the war on a map and learn where each was so we could point out the battle of the Coral Sea etc. When you said it belong to Britain it took off the bad mark of not being able to name all those places under its control. Africa I have just gone nuts on.

[porphyrian]

8. Being a Good Consumer doesn't require knowledge of the outside world.

The war on public education has been waged successfully.

[Obamarama]

9. I think this is a result of the xenophobic tendency of most Americans

My theory is that recent generations of Americans have been brought up to believe our country is the center of the universe. I don't beleive students are challenged to think outside our own borders, so to speak. Sure, they're taught we live in a "global marketplace," but they're not given the base of knowledge to understand what that really means.

I might add it's not enough to simply know where a country's borders lie on a map. One also needs to know a little about that country. I'm not suggesting that everyone needs to be a walking geopolitical encyclopedia, but people should be knowledgable about the countries which are at the forefront of today's geopolitical landscape beyond where they lie on the map. THAT, I beleive, is the key to people understanding a little more about what's going on in the vast world that lies outside our own borders.

I'm also appalled at the number of adults I run across who, when asked about where they have travelled internationally, say something akin to: "Oh, I have no desire to travel overseas. There's enough to see right here in my own country." I just want to slap these people to their senses.

My parents bought me a National Geographic World Atlas in 1975 when I was in 5th grade. Its battered and bruised after 31 years of use, but I STILL get it out and explore the world with it, despite having had the opportunity to travel extensively overseas. I remember reading at various times in my life the country profiles in the atlas: the capitals, the religions, the primary economies, the topographies, etc... of the countries.

I suspect we're going to slip even further down in rank of being able to compete globally if we don't do something to reorient students to the world that exists beyond the red, white and blue.

[Ronnie]

15. Actually,

many Americans I know think the U.S. IS the universe.

[DELUSIONAL]

10. There are a few advantages to being a Navy brat

My grandparents lived in Kansas -- and my Dad was stationed on bases on both coasts. I know the states because I've lost count of how many times I've been across country.

It amazes me no end that people here in the US don't seem to have an interest in world events and where in the world things imported to the US come from.

I suppose that the blame for the ignorance should be spread far and wide.

The media isn't doing their job to educate -- maps should be used. Big map "this is the world", next map "This is North America", next map: "this is the state of __________", next map "this is where ____ took place."

Use the maps -- take the time to explain what the viewers are seeing. In this highly graphic world there is no excuse for not being able to locate all states-- and all International regions on a globe or large wall map.

This geographical illiteracy is going to get much worse -- if children are going going to be taught how to pass tests.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. I've got to question 2, and have decided the 'test' is a crock of shit

"Which of these cities is the setting for the original television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation?"

There's goes National Geographic's credibility. :eyes:

And with the question: "A person is able to wear lightweight clothing all year round. He probably lives near the..." one of the answers is "British Isles". Well, that depends on if he's from Newcastle, pet ... ;-)

[tocqueville]

14. Yep that question was stupid, I had to guess

it was the only wrong I got. But the other questions are more interesting and some are pretty tricky

[movie_girl99]

12. i have one for you- clueless bank teller

my husband got a check from his mom who lives in England. We took it to our branch bank to deposit. We do this a few times a year and although it takes them a few minutes, it's no biggie. The gal who helped us looked about 20. She looked the exchange rate up on the computer and says " I cant find London should I look under France". We looked at each other and then to her and said to her " London is a city in the UK so try United Kingdom". Then as she's scrolling she said "Oh I found it, Euro" My husband said "ummm no I don't want it in Euros, I want it in pounds". Finally the manager came over and completed the transaction for us. I was flabbergasted. It's bad enough that when people find out my husband is from England they automatically assume he's from London. Then to deal with such a goober was too much.

[Radio_Guy]

13. I always get Wyoming & Colorado mixed up

Otherwise I can tell each state just by the shape.