Why can't one-fifth of Americans identify the U.S. on a map?

Question

Miss Teen S. Carolina had a problem with this question. So what's the correct answer?

Answer 1

I personally believe that US Americans are unable to do so, because, is that some people out there, in our nation, don't have maps, and I believe that our education, such as South Africa, and the Iraq, everywhere like, such as, and I believe that they should, our education over here, in the US should help the US, or um should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children.

Answer 2

Perhaps Miss South Carolina was giving an "object Iesson" - you know, an actual demonstration - wow, that was painful, sad and humorous all at the same time. . . seriously though, I think the American education system where we don't hold students back who don't pass the course because we don't want to "hurt their self-esteem" is doing a great disservice to the student, the community, and the world. We don't need more people who are unprepared and ignorant.

We should always work to educate our minds and our hands so we can succeed in our chosen fields. Our education should be an influence for good and our use of it should distinguish us as people of integrity. A good education will prepare us for opportunities as they come and will help us be an asset to our families, our communities, and the world.

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and, uh, I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like such as and I believe that they should . . . our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. uh er should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children." - Thank you Miss South Carolina

Answer 3

Not truly an answer but, I would like to see the study that this question came from...I want to see the facts. I would first ponder what percent of our population is age 3 or younger, then that portion of our population which is currently comatose or otherwise unable to use their finger to point at a map. I am sure even an illiterate person could still find the USA on a map..so, after removing the toddlers and physically incapable we could truly identify how bad our educational system truly is.

Answer 4

First off many schools don't get enough money in funding. A friend of mine teaches at a school where they often have to cut school days or even the school week early because they don't have the money to keep the power on let alone buy books and computers. In addition to this I don't think our schools teach enough practical knowledge. We teach so much stuff that's essentially useless such as astronomy and things that kids will never use yet we don't teach kids about current events, geography, how to balance a checkbook, how to live on a budget. I think schools need to teach more practical knowledge and life skills and drop some of the useless stuff kids are never going to use. In a perfect world we would teach everythign because a well rounded education is best and even useless subjects like astronomy may benefit some as it may make a grade schooler realize it's somethign that interests them and something tehy dream to do down the road. However when money is limited and we can't teach everythig we have to at least teach practical stuff.

Answer 5

Because they don't need no education?

It's for a lot of reasons. Because there are no real consequences anymore for kids who don't want to learn. Because teachers now have to accomodate the kids instead of the other way around. School becomes less challenging in the name of not hurting feelings or making things too hard. Etc.

It's not that hard, people. You make it clear to the kids that it's important to learn. You teach with higher expectations. Encourage competition. Create negative consequences for not learning.

All of this wasted time and energy is going into inessential crap, which is essentially marketing BS. You don't need higher tech anything to make teaching work. You know who didn't have power-point, interactive media, computers, DVD's, CD's, fun time learning entertainment, etc.? Everyone from Einstein to Shakespeare, Lincoln, Socrates, Goethe, and every other person before this generation. And these people learned it all better!

Get a map. Drill. Test. Drill. Test. Repeat until the material is learned. Not difficult.

End of rant.

Answer 6

Geography is not taught in schools.

When I taught U.S. history over 20 years ago, we worked a lot with maps. My students had blank maps in which they had to label cities, rivers, etc. Perhaps this is not done in schools like it was in previous years.

And, students are lazy. Many rely on computers for everything. Map reading and labeling is just "too much work." Let the computer do it for you.

As a result, ignorance.

Miss S. Carolina had a hard time with this question, but she is right (she got it right on the Today Show this morning). Kids need geography!

Answer 7

Ok, put it into context... the study that her question refered to were 12 year olds, not adults. In my humble opinion it is a flaw in our culture AND in our 'public education'. We no longer 'teach' at home as part of every day living.. we expect the school to do everything from cooking to sex-ed. Our culture would rather entertain our kids. There is no longer a lifestyle of learning but a lifestyle of entertain me! I would say 'teaching to the test' is a good part of it as well. Academics are so regulated in schools, actual learning is limited. Of course, this is my opinion, which is why we homeschool. My son CAN find the U.S. on a map.. as well as Brazil and a large number of countries.

Answer 8

LOL...you heard that on the radio this morning...lol
the biggest problem is with the lack of education in this country. We have the poorest education and we do nothing to TRY improving on it. It is very sad that the citizens of this country dont know where they live.
We pass these children to the next level and they dont know the basics. The leaders try to find new ways of teaching but they only harm these children and help contribute to the drop out rate. We need to go back to the fundamentals of education and realize that these children are our future.

Answer 9

I think the question was why can't 1/5th of the U.S. find Iraq on a map, it is being missreported by most news agencies.

Answer 10

Because sex ed, drug ed and liberal ed have superseeded geography, music and art. Our children are graduating dumber every year. They know longer teach CIVICS people. How in the hell are our children supposed to know how government works when they cannot even find the city dedicated to it. We are all lost. If I remember correctly they taught us to read a map in library class in the fifth grade. I bet half the kids in school have no idea what the dewey decimal system is. DO YOU?