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I beg to differ, Natalie. Every year that my youngest has been in school so far, up to and including sixth grade, has included map reading. If it was available, I'd photograph and post the hand-drawn, geo-political map of Canada my son completed this week for Social Studies. If I remember correctly from my older children's middle school years, next year they will continue world geography with a focus on Asia, Africa, and South America.
I'm glad you approve. BTW, around here we all know the capital of Canada, along with its territories and provinces and their corresponding capitals.
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomparent
Also, I'm pretty sure that using a compass was covered in either fourth or fifth grade science.
Update: My son just informed me that his physical education class practiced using coordinates by navigating an outdoor compass course. Furthermore, math classes at all levels have included units that require map reading skills. Maps are even covered in language arts classes. In fourth grade, I vividly recall my son and his peers creating a map of the travels described in a novel called Walk Two Moons, in which the main character traverses the northern United States from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest in search of her mother.
Who are these public school children who do not study geography? At this point I'm struggling to come up with a class in which it has NOT been covered in some way or another.
Quote:
Originally Posted by weltschmerz
37% of Americans Can’t Find America on a Map!”
“Stuart Weiss, senior sociology professor at Boston College, said although these findings may be surprising to some, they’re by no means atypical. “The sentiment of many Americans is that there’s little intrinsic value in studying a map of a place you’re already at,” noted Weiss. “It’d be like driving to Graceland and then asking for directions once you’ve arrived. Not much point.”
Shirley Matheson, a part-time Arby’s employee residing in Dayton, Ohio, agreed with Weiss’s assessment. “I live in the U.S.A., so why would I need to know where America is? Or the United States for that matter?” Added Matheson: “As long as there’s still room on that map for all three of those countries, I’m sure everyone will keep getting along just fine.” 37% of Americans Can't Find America on a Map! | Alternative
Shirley is either an idiot or someone who slept her way through school. Shockingly, given I grew up and attended public school in Dayton, Ohio, I can place the United States of America on a world map, along with many other feats of geographic knowledge, including naming the capital of Canada and using a compass to navigate my surroundings effectively. But perhaps all is not lost; at least Shirley appears to know the difference between "America" and the U.S.A. It's a start.
Last edited by randomparent; 11-24-2013 at 02:37 PM..
37% of Americans Can’t Find America on a Map!”
“Stuart Weiss, senior sociology professor at Boston College, said although these findings may be surprising to some, they’re by no means atypical. “The sentiment of many Americans is that there’s little intrinsic value in studying a map of a place you’re already at,” noted Weiss. “It’d be like driving to Graceland and then asking for directions once you’ve arrived. Not much point.”
Shirley Matheson, a part-time Arby’s employee residing in Dayton, Ohio, agreed with Weiss’s assessment. “I live in the U.S.A., so why would I need to know where America is? Or the United States for that matter?” Added Matheson: “As long as there’s still room on that map for all three of those countries, I’m sure everyone will keep getting along just fine.” 37% of Americans Can't Find America on a Map! | Alternative
I'm embarrassed to admit that I took this article at face value and responded as such; however, I was so bothered by it that I did a little research, revealing the article as satire by comedy writer Steve Sahari first published by Huffington Post on December 15, 2008. That's right, folks, there is no Shirley Matheson. The article is nonsense, but to our shame has been portrayed and accepted as truth all over the web.
Last edited by randomparent; 11-24-2013 at 03:50 PM..
Shirley is either an idiot or someone who slept her way through school. Shockingly, given I grew up and attended public school in Dayton, Ohio, I can place the United States of America on a world map, along with many other feats of geographic knowledge, including naming the capital of Canada and using a compass to navigate my surroundings effectively. But perhaps all is not lost; at least Shirley appears to know the difference between "America" and the U.S.A. It's a start.[/quote]
You do realize that not all public schools (if this is where you and your son went to) do not teach geography and if your school does is there something that they are not teaching as well. There is not one high school in Pittsburgh which is a much bigger city that teaches geography and I can imagine that there are more inner city schools that don't as well. Just consider you and your son fortunate to have such a good education.
So why are you blaming NBC? FOX News said some pretty vicious things about her lack of intelligence in that clip, including the Africa thingie.
And righties think FOX is a legitimate news source.
Even when they went to court giving them permission to lie to the public
I beg to differ, Natalie. Every year that my youngest has been in school so far, up to and including sixth grade, has included map reading. If it was available, I'd photograph and post the hand-drawn, geo-political map of Canada my son completed this week for Social Studies. If I remember correctly from my older children's middle school years, next year they will continue world geography with a focus on Asia, Africa, and South America. Also, I'm pretty sure that using a compass was covered in either fourth or fifth grade science.
I meant to ask you is this a public school or a charter school?
Simetime, the article is satire as I revealed above, and I would like to know what you assume my children's education is missing while their teachers weave a little geography into the curriculum. Is it really that overwhelming to point out the location of Milford, Connecticut, the setting of The Minister's Black Veil, before students dive into the Hawthorne short story? That's what my daughter did Friday in her freshman language arts class.
Last edited by randomparent; 11-24-2013 at 04:39 PM..
What's a stident? Knowing what that is will help us understand why they don't know what the Capitol of Canada is.
what's worse, not being able to name the capital of Canada or not being able to spell student??????
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