Many Americans cannot identify a single country from a world map? (district, educational)
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I can barely remember a simple physics formula anymore, much less organic chemistry.
But I think if you took physics, at least you know the concepts of inertia, density, voltage, refraction and so on, and that is already a much better understanding of the world.
It's weird. Quite some people never took geography in high school, or physics, or chemistry...
Is it unique in the US? I think they are compulsory in most countries.
In the U.S. we study "Social Studies" not Geography. It's been that way since the 1960's and possibly earlier (I graduated HS in 1978).
In New Jersey, in 1978 at least, you needed 100 credits to graduate. Everything was an elective except for 4 years of Gym, 4 years of English, and 2 years of Math. Even Social Studies was not required (at the high school level).
In 4th grade our teacher popped a surprise "map test" on the class. Not sure if it was just her idea or if it was official curriculum. Every kid in the class except me did so poorly (even the other "smart kids"!) they had to study and re-take the test. I got every question right including the extra credit because I am a geography savant. I wonder if any of that 4th grade map studying stuck with anyone.
In the U.S. we study "Social Studies" not Geography. It's been that way since the 1960's and possibly earlier (I graduated HS in 1978).
In New Jersey, in 1978 at least, you needed 100 credits to graduate. Everything was an elective except for 4 years of Gym, 4 years of English, and 2 years of Math. Even Social Studies was not required (at the high school level).
In 4th grade our teacher popped a surprise "map test" on the class. Not sure if it was just her idea or if it was official curriculum. Every kid in the class except me did so poorly (even the other "smart kids"!) they had to study and re-take the test. I got every question right including the extra credit because I am a geography savant. I wonder if any of that 4th grade map studying stuck with anyone.
That is very different from China (when I was a student).
In China, middle school (Grade 7~9):
6 semesters Chinese
6 semesters English (or another language)
6 semesters math
6 semesters biology (botany, zoology, human physiology each 2 semesters)
6 semesters morals and laws
4 semesters physics
4 semesters history
4 semesters geography
2 semesters chemistry
The above are all compulsory. Everyone must take all.
There are also PE, music, fine arts etc. more depending on individual schools.
High school (Grade 10~12):
for all:
6 semesters Chinese
6 semesters English (or another language)
2 semesters biology
2 semesters geography
for science track:
6 semesters math
6 semesters physics
6 semesters chemistry
4 semesters history
4 semesters politics
for arts track:
4 semesters math
2 semesters physics
2 semesters chemistry
6 semesters history
6 semesters politics
There are lots of classes, but some students really learned very little.
The "bad students" are largely ignored in such an educational system. They won't go to college or even high school anyway.
It's weird. Quite some people never took geography in high school, or physics, or chemistry...
It's extremely 'weird'; only ten states require geography for a high-school diploma. However, physics and chemistry are required/expected for college-bound students, as a whole.
That said, we lag far behind other countries educationally on the World Stage (per the OECD/PISA which measures 15-year-old students' performance in reading, science, math and so on). Yet, (some) people continue to defend/discuss 'engine repair' and 'choir' amidst globalization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtab4994
In the U.S. we study "Social Studies" not Geography. It's been that way since the 1960's and possibly earlier (I graduated HS in 1978).
It's not the 1960's anymore. It's time to eliminate vocational training in high-school (and require Geography).
Last edited by CorporateCowboy; 12-07-2020 at 07:29 PM..
Reason: typo
1) To be fair, naming Asia or Africa as a country isn't THAT bad. Those participants probably eventually got a country.
2) Although it wasn't outright stated, it's implicit that people didn't want to or were not allowed to name the US as the one country. Not knowing a country outside of the US? Not great, but again, I can see it. Not knowing where the US is? That one is bad.
3) That leaves one woman, the brunette, who could not name a single country, and the woman with the pigtails was pretty bad too. So maybe 2 people out of maybe hundreds they pulled aside.
You don't remember this stuff from studying it in school. You lose it.
The only reason I know countries is because I like to travel and so I've at times mapped out countries that I want to go to. For instance, almost nobody can name countries in Africa because nobody wants to go there.
I also know a little bit more because of world news, but TBH I don't follow that nearly as much as I should.
That's the reason I know the states so well. Because I've been to so many of them.
What is more shocking to me is that many people have no desire whatsoever to travel outside the US, and you can bet their geography likely stinks.
It's not the 1960's anymore. It's time to eliminate vocational training in high-school (and require Geography).
You couldn't pick a worse time for that idea. So many working class kids have been tricked into going to college that DC politicians are now seriously discussing "forgiving their debt". We need more vo-tech, not less.
In the U.S. we study "Social Studies" not Geography. It's been that way since the 1960's and possibly earlier (I graduated HS in 1978).
In New Jersey, in 1978 at least, you needed 100 credits to graduate. Everything was an elective except for 4 years of Gym, 4 years of English, and 2 years of Math. Even Social Studies was not required (at the high school level).
In 4th grade our teacher popped a surprise "map test" on the class. Not sure if it was just her idea or if it was official curriculum. Every kid in the class except me did so poorly (even the other "smart kids"!) they had to study and re-take the test. I got every question right including the extra credit because I am a geography savant. I wonder if any of that 4th grade map studying stuck with anyone.
I had geography class and history class as separate.
I also had grammar/spelling class as separate from reading class.
I also went to school in the 60's-70's so I guess it depended on where you went to school.
Today you have social studies with an emphasis on the social aspect of various cultures.
You have language arts with an emphasis on reading.
You couldn't pick a worse time for that idea. So many working class kids have been tricked into going to college that DC politicians are now seriously discussing "forgiving their debt". We need more vo-tech, not less.
What does going to college (or not) have to do with being able to identify the Pacific Ocean on a map - or having (at least) a vague notion of globalization or the world in which one lives?
What does going to college (or not) have to do with being able to identify the Pacific Ocean on a map - or having (at least) a vague notion of globalization or the world in which one lives?
Not much IMO.
Some people are more curious than others.
Having an interest in travel, foreign culture, world events/news and sports helps.
Especially soccer.
It seems as though a smart person would know a lot of countries, but that is likely due to the fact that well educated people usually like to travel and follow world news.
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