Only 71% Americans can locate Pacific Ocean on a map

Forbes ^ | May 12, 2003 Issue | Paul Recer

[yankeedame]

Survey Says

A National Geographic study released [in November] found that only about one in seven Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could find Iraq [on a map]. Although 58% knew that the Taliban and al Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17% could find that country.

The survey asked 56 geographic and current events questions of young people in nine countries.

Americans got an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21. Topping the scoring was Sweden, with an average of 40, followed by Germany and Italy, each with 38.

Other findings: When asked to find 10 specific states on a map of the U.S., only California and Texas could be located by a large majority. Only 51% could find New York.

On a world map, Americans could find on average only 7 of 16 countries in the quiz. Only 89% of the Americans surveyed could find their own country.

Only 71% of the surveyed Americans could locate the Pacific Ocean.

--Paul Recer, Associated Press

(And, while we're on the subject this from USA Today/Forbes)

"No idea in politics has hurt children more than the false and misleading idea that the quality of education is determined by how much we spend.

"More than 35 years after Congress passed the first Elementary and Secondary Education Act, public school spending per pupil has more than doubled--even when adjusted for inflation--from $3,331 in 1965-1966 to $8,194 in 2000-2001.

" In fact, the federal government has spent more than $321 billion on education programs since 1965. Every year, spending on K-12 education by all levels of government exceeds $400 billion.

"Yet, citizens must ask, what have we gotten for all this? Fewer than a third of fourth-graders can read proficiently.

"No, the problem isn't--and never has been--money alone. This is just the most tired of all excuses. If there is no account-ability, or schools use unproven fads for instruction, it doesn't matter how much money is thrown at a problem; it will be wasted."

--Rod Paige, Secretary of Education

[ArneFufkin]

That's the family up there in ... up there ... that I have always loved.

What a great solution. "Make 'em safe and sound, Smithy. Oh yeah, tell it to the world boys. If you're looking for conversational subjects while you're waiting for us to come back Sunday to free your earth soul from the physical chains and imprisonment connected to that radiating heater, how about haircuts and writ warrants..."

[NFOShekky]

"Thats bad but have you ever tried to get the right change at the drive through burger when the cash register quit working?, Sheeshhhhh."

Boy, you said it!!! How about this: I was in my local credit union the other day, their computers died, and they wouldn't handle any transactions!!!! I asked the manager if he hadn't heard of a pencil and paper or possibly a ledger and he just shrugged his shoulders! I'm no old timer but even I remember having a passbook that the teller would write in!

[Walkingfeather]

I would like to see how Hawaiians did on the pacific question

[Sloth]

"the federal government has spent more than $321 billion on education programs since 1965. Every year, spending on K-12 education by all levels of government exceeds $400 billion. "

A large portion of that yearly education spending is from state & local funds. It's still hard to believe that the feds have only spent $321 billion on it since 1965, though.

[ArneFufkin]

I haven't been paying attention to the Hawaiian political scene.

Has Terry McAullife given the Hawaiian DNC chapter the green light to bury Patsy Ming yet?

[driftless]

Thirty years ago when my English-born fiancee first came to this country with her first husband (hopefully I'll be the last), one of the first Americans she met at a party seriously asked her if one could drive to England. My fiancee had to inform the dolt that there was a fairly large body of water preventing that possibility while trying to stifle her laughter. My own opinion is that on average Americans are morons about geography. But just ask them what kind of grout to use in the bathroom or lawn fertilizer to make the grass greener.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I would like to see a breakdown according to political party.

[ArneFufkin]

the first Americans she met at a party seriously asked her if one could drive to England

"So, how do well do you English people get along with the British people?"

[LaGrone]

Amazingly 99.9% of the Mexicans surveyed could find the southern U.S. border and more importantly the best infiltration routes. LOL

[unixfox]

What's even worse is most of these dumbed down idiots can't name their own senators, much less tell you anything about amendments to the constitution.

Yep, the indoctrination centers are working well in this country.

[NFOShekky]

IMHO: This is all a part of the general "dumbing-down" of America. As a society we are constantly lowering the bar so that even morons can feel good about themselves. At one time people aspired to better themselves but I think that there are too many folks now that are ignorant and proud of it. My grandparents and parents were simple, blue-collar people but they read books, talked about world affairs and other important subjects, and tried to constantly better themselves and educate their children. Now we have become a nation of Homer Simpsons! TV is a big part of this problem. I'm no Phi Beta Kappa, but it makes me angry when even the local news uses slang and bad English. The characters in the sitcoms are not much better. If kids aren't getting shown the value of education at home then their time in school is wasted. They watch TV and see one ignoramous after another and we end up with a population that can't find the Pacific Ocean! Sad!

[NathanR]

The US is happy to continue to excel in business, warfighting and technological innovation.

Geography is not essential in any of these. You either need way more or way less. e.g. In Warfighting, you need to know how to read military topo maps, and what the best way is to get there from here locally, but only at the command level do you need more.

Knowing geography is neither necessary nor sufficient to develop technological innovation. Einstein needed geographical knowledge when escaping Hitler, not when developing the Theory of Relativity.

Even in business, a broad knowledge of geography is not needed. It might be useful, but is not needed.

[ArneFufkin]

Simple: Jose Feliciano Freeway to Herb Alpert Historic Highway and get off on the Selma Hayek Scenic Hottietrail. Take the straight entrance to Welfare Way.

[hattend]

Only 89% of the Americans surveyed could find their own country.

11% of the Americans surveyed were gaming the system.

[ArneFufkin]

You can't understand politics, history and economics if you don't understand geography.

[ArneFufkin]

I don't have to tell you that I'm out here giving 110-120% today.

[ARCADIA]

My first husband was a graduate of Wharton, and worked in the Latin American Division of American Express and he could not find Brazil on the map. I was shocked! Later I realized Jeffrey was only aware of what was of immediate interest to him.

[ArneFufkin]

What's even worse is most of these dumbed down idiots can't name their own senators, much less tell you anything about amendments to the constitution.

Oh NO! They did it, they actually did it.

Those damn Libertarians amended our Constitution!

They must have done it when I was at the Wild game last night. Clever Bastards!

Seriously, I agree with you. I would submit that 75% of all Democrat House Reps and U.S. Senators can't conjure five of them without "staff input" during a POP QUIZ. I think the Pubbies would fare much better, but I'm a polyanna dreaming windmill tiltings and Xanadus.

[adx]

A National Geographic study released [in November] found that only about one in seven Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could find Iraq [on a map]. Although 58% knew that the Taliban and al Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17% could find that country.

As long as that one-in-seven are the navigators on ship or the pilots of our aircraft, I think we'll muddle through. :-)

[Consort]

Much of the Pacific Ocean is Liberal: Hawaii, California, chunks of Washington and Oregon, etc. It receives Liberal sewage constantly. So, it's understandable the some people might be hydrophobic or in water denial about the Pacific.