Do you agree? Can you find your country on a map of the world? What about your state or state capital?
Those are not meant to be silly questions. Miss Teen South Carolina couldn't find the USA on the map during the recent Teen USA pageant.
What about members of your family?
{....The brainless reply from Miss Teen South Carolina — which millions of people have now viewed on YouTube — was so incoherent that yesterday The Today Show gave her a second chance to answer the question. Even after three days to mull it over, however, she still barely answered it.]
Remedies suggested - geography teaching games and articles:
[...1. Sticker Set Play Scenes: both the Map of the USA and the Map of the World.....
2. Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Kit...
3. Read a Mat vinyl place mats, both the world map and the USA map....
4. MapTangle World Edition
5. Junior World Map Puzzleball.....]
Which one/ones do you prefer and why?
Bronx posted on Aug 30, 2007
| views: 433
Comments
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thenack said on Aug 30, 2007....
Yeah what the hell was that, we should uh, help countries like uh, South africa, uh....learn to speak before you try to help other countries. Do you think she knew where south africa was on a map. I hear M&M cancelled his south africa tour caus he didn't want to be so close to Irac, whatever. -
Me-Myself&I said on Aug 30, 2007....
i didn't go to any of the links but i have always had a wall-size map of the worldin my living room. i love it! -
gingersoul said on Aug 30, 2007....
Bronx....the Miss's answer didnt surprise me at all......its in the average ....
There is a general ignorance of Americans about geography....a friend of my ex husband was in the Army....when they told him he had been sent in Gerrmany base he didn't have a clue where Germany was.....my ex husband as well didn't know where Sardegna was...one the biggest island of Mediterranean...duh??
And anytime i would talk with coworkers or friends, and i happen to name places like Bhutan, Croatia, Estonia, even Greece (!!!!), or Madagascar...i would often recieve a blank expression back......where is Croatia? ....
My daughter luckily loves Geography.....i had a big, wooden framed antique-like world map in my living room.
And i bought her a globe many years ago...just in case she might need directions......:-)
She was in 6 grade last year....they did a pretty good job ..she learned about East Europe, Asia, they used graphs, pictures, internet links.....so i am still waiting to see where the school is the one to blame for this general lack of knowledge ....
i think alot has to do with the fact Americans deeply believe they are the center of universe.......lol.......so why learn about other countries?
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Bronx said on Aug 30, 2007....
thenack: haaaaaa-haaaaaaaa.....that was hilarious.
WELCOME TO MY BLOG!
M&M really said that?
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Bronx said on Aug 30, 2007....
MMI: you're smart, IMHO. Those little educational things don't cost a thing to get. -
Bronx said on Aug 30, 2007....
Ginger: I agree with you - it's just the result of the privilege of convenience enjoyed by American residents - why worry about all things foreign when you have all you need at home within reach?
The Europeans, especially, are more knowledgeable probably because of their history of early world exploration and colonization of various peoples of the world.
Any way, IMHO, Google Earth is still unbeatable as far as geography lessons go.
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gingersoul said on Aug 30, 2007....
Bronx.....i love Google Earth too...and you know what i am obsessed with?
Earth Webcamera. .....you have only to select your location and watch..
The camera will show you the place 24/24....i have several Italy webcameras..one is showing a piazza of Roma where i lived. Another one is on a Capri beach...so once in a while i log in and just look...pretending i am lookign from my windows....
sometimes on the nigth camera i can see the waves crushing against my country's shores........magic....;-)..
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PassionTraveler said on Aug 30, 2007....
As someone who loves to travel, I can find most major countries or cities on a map/globe. I will admit that there are a few I can't pinpoint EXACTLY, but I would definitely know the general area, water body, or continent in which to start looking.
I like toys and gadgets. I remember the continents very well by a magnetic puzzle globe I have on my office desk. In fact, I love globes and maps and collect them. Even my tattoo is of a raven atop a world globe. And, I have a huge world map on my wall and refer to it often. I also have dictionaries (various versions all over my house).
Growing up, if I didn't know a word, my grandfather -- an avid reader and science teacher -- used to tell me, "there's the dictionary, look it up." I do that now with everyone I know. It's the sole reason I'm in a writing field. He made words my business from a very young age. I also do the same with geography using my globes and maps. But as much as I loved travel, very few in my community knew anything beyond the perimeters of our state.
I'm not justifying the Miss Teen USA contestant's ignorance, but many Midwest, and Southern cities not near major meccas have little ethnic or cultural diversity. Growing up in the South, I never knew much of other cultures or races, save my own myopic community. It really helps retention if you are exposed to living examples. However, I did have a desire and curiosity to learn more, as well as study other languages and did.
I now live in Los Angeles, a mecca of cultures from all over the world. My immediate office clan that I call friends are more diverse than any group I've ever associated prior to moving to California. They are Egyptian, Chinese-American, Mexican, Indian, Malaysian, South African, and from all over the United States. I know and can locate the hometown of practically each and every one on a map.
However, which of your tools above I most recommend? The puzzle and map tangle are pretty clever, but none lists country names or cities.
Frankly, I recommend a giant wall map mounted on a bulletin or magnetic board of the political world (with the geological world on the rear or inset), and a box of colored or unique push pins or magnets. Each time you either meet someone from another country (online is great for this within safety parameters), or hear of a location in the news, or actually visit one, designate it on the map. For less diverse communities, it may be better to devise outings designed to expose kids to other cultures, then play the "find it on a map" game.
Now, I use my wall map to look up any city or country I can't immediately place in my mind. I used it to consider my travels as well. I can decide where I want to go and then focus on learning about that new country until I'm ready to go there in person.
Now, History dates are another matter. General historical information I managed to retain from my school days, but there are many events that will take a few prompts to recall, and most dates I won't even try to remember. Of course, 1776, 1492, those, I'll remember. LOL
PT
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Bronx said on Aug 30, 2007....
ginger: Earth Webcamera.....that's so neat. Yes, it makes the world seem much better, doesn't it? -
Bronx said on Aug 30, 2007....
PT: hi.....yes, I agree with you about the usefulness of a physical globe or map with which to get that hands-on feel for geography.
Your Grandfather was a very wise man - instilling a sense of independence in a child is the best move any time.
You know, it just occurred to me that most foreigners, too, would find it difficult to name just half of the States in the USA.
Maybe Miss Carolina's case seems such an embarrassment mainly because she was expected to know these 'trivial' things, especially given the fact that there are excellent libraries and other tools of knowledge located in most US communities,
etc.
Any way, it was Einstein that said, 'why cram anything when you can just look it up?'
In fact, that was where Miss C failed - after 3 days, she should have brushed up at home or the library before the second show.
PT,...em...er...seriously....what happened in 1492 again? : - >
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tbs230 said on Aug 30, 2007....
Some idiot asked my what part of Africa was Haiti located in...I just had to walk away...definitely not a smart cookie.... -
PassionTraveler said on Aug 30, 2007....
Bronx,
Columbus sailed the Ocean blue, in 1492. :P
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PassionTraveler said on Aug 30, 2007....
Bronx, an addendum to Miss Carolina's case: her lack of knowledge in the area of Geography was less of an embarrassment than how she answered the question. (yes, I'm a veteran of the pageant wars)... If she didn't know the answer, it would have been far more credible of her to admit her lack of knowledge and spin it into a positive, like promoting her cause, whatever that may be. A good response might have been to say:"You know, geography is an important knowledge to have, given the world events of late, and a proper education is very important. However, I am blessed to live in the information age where anything I wish to know, I can look up on the Internet at a moment's notice. I realize I should know the answers to your questions and rather than guess, I will vow to brush up on this important knowledge. But I would also like to add that where the areas of greater concern to me, like health care, or providing for the indigent populations, I can tell you virtually anything you would like to know."
Just my two cents. ;)
PT
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rupert7 said on Aug 30, 2007....
Well, my sister thought that Europe was in America!! But she has never been the sharpest tool in the shed! My country is the big one at the bottom of the world,my state takes up nearly half the country and my capitol (Perth) is the only real city in the state!! With a population of one million is a country town by world standards! None the less it is hard to miss on a map (the country) My niece who graduated from high school and gained,but declined, a University position, asked me not so very long ago,what sort of plant do apples grow on? This from a straight "A"student!!! I am not a highly educated person but still have to say that the standard of education has dropped these days. It used to be that if you failed end of year exams you had to repeat the year you were in but now they shove you into the next year anyway. The 3 R's have been ignored,largely, and as for subjects like Geography, forget it! -
Bronx said on Aug 31, 2007....
tbs: hi....WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Sorry, that was my normal shout out to first time or long lost visitors.
Well....actually, you could have told the person where to go and check it up.......
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Bronx said on Aug 31, 2007....
PT: ah....there were so many trips that Summer that I wasn't quite sure which one you meant..... ; - >
IMHO, Miss C should have had you on her coaching team.
Hmmm....you sound like you've won a few titles yourself - I won't be surprised! :)
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Bronx said on Aug 31, 2007....
rupert: hi....WELCOME TO MY BLOG!
Yes, Australia is very hard to miss on the world map.....made even more so by Olivia Newton-John, Crocodile Dundee, etc., etc.
Why did your niece decline a University position?
Yes, the standard of education has really declined - I tested my 8-year-old today by giving him an old book on English Grammar to read...not that he lacks any skills for his age..
He abandoned it after about an hour to watch cartoons and a Reality Show onTV.
I asked him later if he had finished it and he chuckled a bit before saying that he read some of the stories there but skipped the parts he did not understand!
Conclusion: 8-year olds are a bit too young to learn about English Grammar - but his rather expensive school has been able to give a very good ROI because he has been known to be able to recite the names of state governors and their states.....: )
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rupert7 said on Aug 31, 2007....
Mindy is a very bright girl but unambitious. She was a straight "A" student in all her subjects all the way through high school. That came at a price for her though. She would be up studying till 1am very often and had a very minimal social life due to her almost fanatical dedication to learning. I know this because Mindy and her sister lived with me and Jenny from an early age.We raised the girls in other words.Mindy is a hospital receptionist and is happy and content. After she declined University entrance she was invited to the university (Edith Cowan) where she was presented with a special award in recognition of her achievements. We are very proud of her and respectful of her decision not to further her education. I don't believe parents should try to relive their lives through their kids.
Your 8 year old sounds pretty smart too, and i am sure he will make the right choices for HIM when he gets a little older.
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Bronx said on Sep 01, 2007....
rupert: thank you....I wish he would be less playful though - but I guess that's what his age mates do also.
Mindy is really quite unique - some girls just make up their minds about certain things that way, unlike boys, it seems.
She's very lucky to have found her niche in life peacefully - yes, some parents would have raised 'hell' literally.
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rupert7 said on Sep 01, 2007....
Bronx, actually Mindy chose not do take the TEE path. So technically she was not eligible for University entrance but her exam results were so impressive that it was offered anyway. I was a little disappointed that she wanted to pass up such an opportunity but it is her life and she is happy. Many do the TEE and fail to enter Uni, Mindy doesn't sit it and yet the University practically beg her to enroll! Amazing! and as I said,we are really proud of her!
Your son is what? 8? of course he is playful! Thats part of growing up. As he gets older he will become more serious and I am sure a balanced student who will do just fine,you'll see! He is already doing well by the sound of it.
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Bronx said on Sep 02, 2007....
Thanks, again....yes, he is good in school.
I can see again why Mindi is someone to be really proud of.