Americans, are you taught in school about other countries?

Question

Hello from Liverpool, England.

Here the general stereotype of Americans is that they know nothing about other countires and don't care as they think that American is 'the world'.

Is this an outdated stereotype?

In school, are you taught about the world outside America?

Answer 1

Yes, especially in Modern World History.

Answer 2

I am American and my husband is from the UK so we have compared notes at times as to what we both learned in school especially history wise about each other. In the US, we of course do cover world history which I remember mainly at earlier ages in school and then it tended to focus more on US history and State and Local Govt more than anything. I think our knowledge of other countries is a bit lack due to the fact that we really only have Canada and Mexico relatively close to us and also that we are a "New-ish" country ourselves. England is an old country which has far many more years of history behind it in which has involved itself with many other countries. The UK today, a part of the EU is automatically more involved with other countries because of the network of the countries which the EU consists of. Whereas in the US,on a close hand to hand basis it is really Mexico or Canada near to us. In the US,I think a lot of the lack of interest with other countries has a lot to do with the isolation one could call it basically from not having many foreign countries sitting right outside of our doorstep. The US is a huge place and I think because of that,it tends to make us feel like it IS the world in a sense. Living in Germany now..I could drive to Luxembourg,The Netherlands,France,Belgium or the UK ,some in 45 mins-1 hour but all within less than 5 hours travel time. From here to the US it takes me at least 12 hours flying. The point is for one we dont have the convenience of other countries nearby and I do think that if we did,then as a country we would be a little more open minded and take more interest in other countries. I will definitly say that most Americans do think America is the world though. I am 37 now and so it has been a few years since I have had a history class but my 14 year old daughter was visiting Germany last summer and was here for July 4th and asked my husband who is English if they had 4th of July in Germany or in the UK. I really wonder just what they ARE teaching in history nowdays in the States!

Answer 3

I moved here from Europe after high school. I have two kids who went through the American school system and have college degrees. I have one son who is in an American middle school. I also teach in an elementary school.

I can say with some authority that American students are still as ignorant of the world as ever. There are, of course, exceptions, but I am appalled at the general lack of knowledge about the world among high school graduates. Even college graduates lack that basic understanding that other countries take for granted.

Yes, kids are taught about the world outside America, but it is very superficial. People don't know that they don't know.

It is a matter of priorities and interests. With pop culture, who needs the world outside America?

I strongly advise any high school or college age student to go abroad for an extended period of time. It is an eye opener.

Answer 4

OK listen up buddy. Going to a school in America yeah!!! We learn about other countries. We are allowed to form our own opinions and are not told which countries are 'good or bad'.
We learn about the wonderful recources other countries provide and culture. However, we are slightly pushed to believe that communism is bad. Yup that is sooo outdated. Last year we had to learn about all the kings and queens of some of the European countries and stuff like that. If we thought America was the world, then why would I be interested enough in other cultures to come to the UK sight?? I also go to the other sights, as long as I can understand the language! haha. In my Spanish, we are taught just as much culture as language, and in my history class we learn about other countries wars, up points, and low points. I have a wide view of the world and I thank the school system in America for that. Its strange how so many people here have bad views of Americans when we think that you are polite and nice people. so ya theres the few that think your dirty teethed or whatever but i dont even know what means! lol

Answer 5

We used to learn things in school. After Sputnik went into orbit, the educational system got its butt in gear. But that didn't last.

Since the 1950's, Americans have more than doubled their expenditures for education (adjusted for inflation!) and gotten half the product.

Now days, the socialist educational system has taken over completely, and the purpose of school is learning to socialize with one another, and to exist in a system where our self-esteem is never threatened. Hard work and success are evil because they endanger equality. This applies to teacher's unions as well as the students.

Obviously, Americans are learning all they really need about the world, since we are soaking up all the Western European socialist concepts so well and so quickly. Any Englishman should have a keen understanding of this trend.

I personally really love Mother England and hope to get over there again for another visit. I really enjoy drinking REAL ale and loved seeing the "NO EURO" decals on all the pub windows. I was surprised to meet many people who still had a British fighting spirit, much like America's old pioneering ethic.

And I do know something about Liverpool, besides Beatles. It was the last time most of my ancestors saw their native land as they departed for America...

Answer 6

You know come to think of it the only classes I remember being offered to us were history classes such as Western Civilization or Elizabethan History. I could ramble all day about the history of Greeks and the Romans, however, I don't think I could tell you what the current population is for Lithuania or anything like that. Are you asking if we're taught about the history of other countries or taught about current affairs? If it's about history then yes we are taught that! I had to learn a whole long list of English Kings and Queens when I was in high school for a weekly project among other things. In Spanish class we were taught about the Mexican and Spanish culture and history, etc. I would safely say that this is an outdated stereotype. I loved learning about other countries. Our school had trips to places like England, France, Italy, the Mediterranean, Mexico, etc. to help expose us to the world. :0)

Answer 7

We are required to take a World History course (at my school, it is during sophmore year) for credit, either AP or not. We are taught generally where other countries are on a map and cultures and languages. But we also take American History (in Junior year).

Yes, that is an outdated stereotype. We realize that we are not perfect...2/3 of us hate our President, which doesn't exactly help matters either.

Answer 8

I'm a product of public schools in the North East and we learned all about foreign countries through school from an early age all the way through high school. Teachers covered everything from capitals to exports to history.
I suppose that people from the North East also have a view of some Americans, namely Southerners and Midwesterners as ignorant, I don't know how true that stereotype is though.
For the record, I perceive a lot of foreigners to be as ignorant of the rest of the world as the stereotype of Americans suggests.

Answer 9

As an American who has traveled I will say that the world is not at all as it is described in schools. But no school talked about encyclopedia infomation. Where they, are what they produce, and what is the population ect. And if you were lucky they may present a Mc donalds version or one of there Holidays(which was almost always there version of Christmas). Most Americans do not have any idea how different the rest of the world is. But that said it is very hard to picture a place you have never been.

It is very hard to understand that people all over the world are very similar in the way they act and are almost always friendly dispite the TV. They just live in different ways and what we consider a "neccessity" Here is not even available for most of the world. And I am not taking about cell phones and Ipods. Things like clean water, meat and pasturized milk.

Answer 10

That is a very good question. I am an American and yes, I have learned many things about other countries. I am attending college now and many courses go into the many different cultures around the world. I would have to say, though, that a lot of Americans do have that ethnocentric attitude. I believe, though, that every nation has this attitude to a certain extent. For me, it's a sense of pride in my country. I do believe that the U.S. is the best country in the world, as you most likely feel the same about your country, and have every right to.