An American woman said she was shocked to discover that Alaska isn't actually an island, calling for an 'overhaul' of the school curriculum

Business Insider ^ | 11/15/23 | Aimmee Percy

[cgbg]

They probably think that Alaska is connected to the rest of North America by the “bridge to nowhere”.

;-)

[del griffith]

Schools do. I guess this woman never looked at a map or globe.

[Bernard]

44 years ago, I sent two fresh accounting graduates to observe inventories from our Chicago area home office, one in Seattle and the other in Los Angeles. When they compared plane tickets and realized that the flight times were similar, they had to get out a map to realize where the cities were.

It was quite a surprise for both of them. I have not been surprised about people's lack of knowledge about the world around them since then. Somewhat disappointed, but no longer surprised.

[Restless]

A few years ago, I was talking with a group of 20 5-6th grade students at our church. They all attended public school. I told them our church supported missionaries on 6 of the 7 continents. The word “continent” confused them. Not a single kid could tell me what a continent is, let alone name a continent. I then pulled out a map of the US, and only one kid could locate our state (Illinois). Where are the Rocky Mountains? Not a clue. However, they sure knew it was wrong for me to put papers in a regular trash can instead of in a recycle bin.

[Blueflag]

Nailed it!

The stupid is strong in this one.

[cgbg]

Years ago when I lived in CA I explained to some kids that I was born and raised in CT.

I asked them what states bordered CT.

Not one could name even one state.

[granite]

Indeed!

[Alberta's Child]

This thread reminds me of an anecdote I read a few years ago from a foreigner who spent some time working in the U.S. He made the following observation about Americans (I paraphrase):

“After listening to talk radio for a few days I figured that Americans are the dumbest people on the planet. Then I listened to sports talk radio for a few days, and I realized that Americans are actually the smartest people in the world … but they’re smart about things that aren’t important.”

[dfwgator]

If it’s TikTok, odds are it’s staged.

[from occupied ga]

I disagree. There are many people this stupid. They are called Democrat voters.

[wastedyears]

My total time in school was 1990-2004, it was always social studies.

[DallasBiff]

I was a geography freak in grade school, still am, give me a globe I can find Bhutan.

Do they still make physical globes, anymore?

[Buttons12]

No excuse for public school.
I’d watch the private schools closely too.

[BigFreakinToad]

this is completely believable and it’s been like this for awhile. Back in the day Jay Leno did “Jay Walks” where general questions were asked, no one knew a damned thing. My old country school education answered them all. America has a real bad “stupid” problem and it isn’t going to get better.

[OKSooner]

“What is the Constitution of the United States?”

[Samurai_Jack]

I bet she is fluent in preferred pronouns and gender ideology.

[gitmo]

Oh. Now I get it. I’d never thought of Alaska being perceived as an island.

It looks a lot smaller than Texas, too.

[Pearls Before Swine]

People this stupid should forfeit their right to vote, forever.

... and to breed.

I guess she never heard of the Isthmus of Alaska which connects it to Canada? /S

[Autonomous User]

“She was thinking of Australia”

Well they do both start with an “A” so she has that going for her! ;-)

[Roadrunner383]

We had a mid-level exec at a cell phone company yelling at us because our shipping software sent a couple of cell phones 2nd Day Air to Puerto Rico. He thought they should have gone Ground to save money.