Young Americans shaky on geographic smarts

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

so sad

WASHINGTON - Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn’t locate Louisiana on a map and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi.

Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn’t find Iraq, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic.

“Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world,” National Geographic president John Fahey said in announcing a program to help remedy the problem. It’s hoping to enlist businesses, nonprofit groups and educators in a bid to improve geographic literacy.

Planned is a five-year, multimedia campaign called My Wonderful World that will target children 8 to 17. The goal is to motivate parents and educators to expand geographic offerings in school, at home and in their communities.

They will have their task cut out for them, judging by the results of the survey of 510 people interviewed in December and January.

Among the findings:

* One-third of respondents couldn’t pinpoint Louisiana on a map and 48 percent were unable to locate Mississippi.

* Fewer than three in 10 think it important to know the locations of countries in the news and just 14 percent believe speaking another language is a necessary skill.

* Two-thirds didn’t know that the earthquake that killed 70,000 people in October 2005 occurred in Pakistan.

* Six in 10 could not find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

* While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

* While Israeli-Palestinian strife has been in the news for the entire lives of the respondents, 75 percent were unable to locate Israel on a map of the Middle East.

* Nearly three-quarters incorrectly named English as the most widely spoken native language.

* Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

Joining in the effort to improve geographic knowledge will be the 4-H, American Federation of Teachers, Asia Society, Association of American Geographers, National Basketball Association, National Council of La Raza, National PTA, Smithsonian Institution and others.

“Geography exposes children and adults to diverse cultures, different ideas and the exchange of knowledge from around the world,” said Anna Marie Weselak, president of the National PTA. “This campaign will help make sure our children get their geography — so they can become familiar with other cultures during their school years and move comfortably and confidently in a global economy as adults.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12591413/

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

not surprising one bit..........

[m_and_m20 0]

* While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

* Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

How can you not find India on a map??? seriously......

and yeah, the most heavily fortified border is between US and Mexico, totally makes sense..........

[Yaads 0]

* While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

* Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

How can you not find India on a map??? seriously......

and yeah, the most heavily fortified border is between US and Mexico, totally makes sense..........

[kml_36 0]

Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

[zyggy 9]

Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

This is what happens when our schools, our media and our culture is completely America-centric... Heaven forbid that people actually get informed on what is going on around the world outside of the US...

[dalegg 143]

How can you not find India on a map??? seriously......

Yeah, when I look at a map, it clearly says "India" right in the middle.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

* While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

* Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

How can you not find India on a map??? seriously......

and yeah, the most heavily fortified border is between US and Mexico, totally makes sense..........

no wonder they are not aware of the us having an illegal problem

[m_and_m20 0]

At least our kids wont be apart of those statistics! I know coming from an immigrant family myself, i was totally more aware of what was happening outside of the US than others. And that is something that im definately passing on to my children!

[almaty 19]

they are chopf##ks..but they can tell you all about the latest xbox game

[mercuryroad 0]

they are chopf##ks..but they can tell you all about the latest xbox game

they should make a game Grand Theft Country.......we'd be the epicenter of geographic knowledge in no time.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

they are chopf##ks..but they can tell you all about the latest xbox game

they should make a game Grand Theft Country.......we'd be the epicenter of geographic knowledge in no time.

Yeah. You could kill hookers globally. cool.

[noemij 0]

Not surprising.....on another note, how are those kids doing in math?

[mercuryroad 0]

they are chopf##ks..but they can tell you all about the latest xbox game

they should make a game Grand Theft Country.......we'd be the epicenter of geographic knowledge in no time.

Yeah. You could kill hookers globally. cool.

I think we're onto something here.......killing American hookers gets old.

I'd like to carjack a cab in Peru that threatened me into giving them $60. Sweet virtual revenge.

[Fuzzness 2]

"Who wouldn't miss Canada on the map? all tucked away way down there..."