Geography poll results are depressing!

by Evie May 2, 2006 5:23AM PDT

Study: Geography Greek to young Americans

After more than three years of combat and nearly 2,400 U.S. military deaths in Iraq, nearly two-thirds of Americans aged 18 to 24 still cannot find Iraq on a map, a study released Tuesday showed.

The study found that less than six months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 33 percent could not point out Louisiana on a U.S. map.

The most shocking to me were that 44% couldn't find any ONE of the following four countries: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel or Iran. And a whopping 50% couldn't locate New York!

*Sigh*

What are they teaching in the schools again these days?

Discussion is locked

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News flash...

by EdH May 2, 2006 5:42AM PDT

Most Americans aged 18 to 24 cannot find their rear ends with two hands.

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Geography

by marinetbryant May 2, 2006 6:11AM PDT

Remember the geography teacher in Colorado? Ever hear of the NEA? The idea of no child left behind was good but now all they teach is how to pass the test, hate the U.S., hate religion and think the way the liberal left wants you to. Control the mind, create the mental framework in which they think, control the person, control the world.

Tom

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The more I think about it ...

by Evie May 2, 2006 10:22AM PDT

... the sadder it is. To not know where certain hot button places are in the US that have been in the news practically nonstop? I mean besides Florida and TX don't they at least know where the Gulf of Mexico is? Even if they hadn't seen the swirling hurricane pictures enough times on TV!? Boggles the mind

Evie

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That is believable Evie.......

by John Robie May 2, 2006 7:08AM PDT

What gets a laugh on the Jay Leno show is his interviews with people on the street with common questions about geography & our history. 'Course they probably only show the real dummies.

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I wish that were true ...

by Evie May 2, 2006 10:20AM PDT

... Hannity does it on the streets of NYC (whoever passes by). It's amazing how many people don't know the NAME of the man who has been VP for 5+ years now!

One would think that with all the hurricane pictures on the TV that are darned near impossible to miss, even if one only tunes in for Oprah that LA would be recognizeable!

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more depressing news

by marinetbryant May 2, 2006 9:01AM PDT

Just read this.

http://www.bipps.org/ARTICLE.ASP?ID=575

Tom

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Of course, MTB, the "per student spending"

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] May 2, 2006 12:13PM PDT

includes that by the athletic department and administration -- in many if not most districts, spending on administration is taking up more and more of the money. While part of that is in response to ever-increasing DOE record-keeping mandates (gotta make sure no kid is left behind, after all!), more of it is due to the natural tendacy of unchecked bureacrats to reproduce themselves faster than those who actually do useful work!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Don't forget music and the arts!

by Evie May 2, 2006 12:19PM PDT

Just cuz you're not an athlete, don't discount the bnenfits of playing organized team sports.

Spending on administration is a union cash cow thing. You willing to break the union monopoly and see efficient, performance linked administration and teachers? Didn't think so. Can't have that! That's only for CEO's and people in the corporate world who need to produce to keep their jobs, get promoted and make their livings.

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Social studies are being deemphasized, Evie.

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] May 2, 2006 12:09PM PDT

It's part of Bush's "return to the basics" initiative -- English, math and science are tested; social studies usually aren't. When teacher pay and school resources rely on the test results, it shouldn't take a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Don't put the horse before the cart

by dirtyrich May 2, 2006 9:18PM PDT

While this story focused on Social Studies... students are showing deficits across the board in math, english, science, foreign languages, and others. We're still dealing with the results of dumbing down the curriculum, which NCLB was designed to improve. Not enough time has passed to attribute the Social Studies problem to NCLB.
Anyway, most of the problems associated with NCLB (high-stakes testing, punishing poor performing schools) are usually the result of individual state's bungling. The states have a wide berth of freedoms in assessing students and determining proficiency levels... so if the tests suck, that's the states' fault. There are states who have successfully implemented NCLB with alternate testing methods such as portfolios.

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Oh please

by Evie May 2, 2006 9:30PM PDT

I had sports, music, art, math, reading AND social studies.

Not enough time in the day? Cut out a few AIDS lessons for 6 year olds, Earth Day & Kwanzzaa celebrations and the occasional diversity assembly.

How about they just teach and stop pimping for the measly % Federal funds too if they really have a better way?! LOL.

Geography poll results are depressing!

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