Do schools in the USA teach pupils that countries other than the USA actually exist.?

Question

If so, why do Americans seem to be totally ignorant about the rest of the world such as where countries are located and what great contributions other countries have made to the world even before the USA existed.

Answer 1

I HEAR you! I am so sick of learning about everything America did, blah blah blah...my friends think that Japan is next to Italy and even my history teacher thought the Taj Mahal was in Turkey...seriously. When I talk to people from other countries, they know all about American history AND that of their own country! When we do learn about other countries, it's always the same: England, France, Ancient Rome. Shouldn't we also be learning about the other HUGE countries in the world? China, Brazil, Russia? All the huge contributors of the world (I would name them all, but it would take hours)...yeah, it disturbs me a little. Not to mention our neighbors? Canada, Mexico..ever heard of them?

Answer 2

Yes they do, but unfortunately schools in the US focus more on completing a curriculum in lightning speed than actually allowing students to retain information. Unless you live in Texas, and then you are only taught Texas history.

I had a world history class my Sophomore year of high school. However, we did 1 chapter every week, so basically as a student the goal was to read the chapter, cram for the test on Friday, and then move on to the next chapter. I wish I had actually had time to learn something from that class, as I find other cultures quite fascinating. Instead I watch a lot of the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and TLC but even documentaries are not without bias. You really have to research all the information you take in to make sure you are not making snap judgments on incorrect info.

Answer 3

"And brave, people don't give a crap about one another." I am fully, completely willing to fight and die for my country. You could put a gun to my face and ask me to betray my country, and I would take the bullet before I said anything. I was raised as a gentleman by my very wise mother, I see a woman carrying a bunch of stuff? I offer to help her. I see a guy with his car stuck in the snow? I offer to shovel him out. Most people actually do care for one another, I think you've just seen the bad people. "So we are not free, there are so many laws telling us that we can't do anything." Blame the idiots in our government who regard the Constitution with no more respect than they would have for the people they 'serve'. "What about the unsolved crimes?" Not every crime can be solved, there is a limit to the amount of evidence we can gather. We cannot do justice correctly if we punish innocents. "This country seems to only exist on paper. Land of opportunity my @$$. What American dream? More like the American nightmare. The USA supports education, but employers don't look at grades." EVERYTHING exists on paper, this has been the case for quite a while. Land of opportunity? Ask someone who came here from one of the poorest countries in the world. There's a great deal of opportunity, all you need to do is look around. It's truly not that difficult to get into a college, pursue a career, and make a life for yourself here. As Homer Simpson said: "America: Where anybody can make quick cash fast with no questions asked.". American dream? I believe in it, so it still exists. I'm sure there's others. The Constitution IS the American Dream. Employer's don't look at grades? What? I could name off at least ten businesses in my city that at the very least take your grades into consideration before accepting you. "Schools in this country teach students to pass tests, not how to pass life." Unfortunately, this is mostly true. However, preschool through senior year is made to teach you the basics you need to start. College is where you actually start down a defined path, which definitely teaches you how to pass life. Going to college means a career which means money which means passing life. Schools teach ideas and fundamentals, teaching morals are the parent's job. "There are kids that understand how to pass a multiple choice test, but can barely read and write." Multiple choice isn't used on important tests because it's too easy to guess. Eliminate this answer, this one couldn't be correct, this number looks too high, and voila, you have your answer. I would say that deductive skills are much more important and useful in life than learning what the difference between different amoeba are. I can read. I can write, as seen by this short essay I've just written. And I can guess the answer of a multiple choice question. America is my country, the land of the free, home of the brave, and hell upon anyone who tries to take it from us.

Answer 4

They used to, I remember studying about several specific countries. I remember in the 80s having a 19 year old asking me if Europe and Canada were part of America. I asked her if she got world maps in school, she said yeah but she just through them away. So it was being taught 20 years or so ago as well. But now, I have to wonder if they teach geography myself. Maybe there's not enough time to teach both geography and safe sex.

Answer 5

Yes, they do teach it but not all that well. Yesterday was Independence day and I was asking my little 8 year old neighbor if she new what day it was. She not clue why she was going to be blowing fire crackers. We got to talk about England - and she said "oh yeah, that's in New York right?". She goes to public school up the street. It is really sad.

I understand it is much better in private schools.

Answer 6

They know that they exist but their knowledge about them is poor: For example they think that "Brazilian" and what they call "latinos" (Latin Americans) are a race. (at least 85% of them think that, from my yahoo! answers experience).

Answer 7

No.
We do not learn world history in school. We learn US History.

It wasn't until I got to college that I learned anything about the greeks, the babylonians, roman empire, persians, chinese dynasties, japanese royal family (except that hirohito was emperor when they bombed pearl harbor), Egyptian civilizations, etc etc etc.

Answer 8

Americans think that Canadians live in igloo's... ha ha we dont.