Poll: Geography in America

[oppp7]

As some of you may know, America has horrible statistics for education compared to other countries. One of these areas in geography. Some countries have it mandatory in the same way we have mandatory english or history. 2 years ago I took a class in geography and found a lot of the information interesting. I've thought for over a year now that it would be a more important class than history because it deals with current events (which a good amount of people don't know about, such as the Rwandan Genocide).
Should geography become mandatory in schools in America?

EDIT: ya, I forgot the "No" option for the polls. Just select the "Other" category if that's you.

 

[JRCB]

I'm not sure on the situation in the States, but where I am it's interchangeable with history.

 

[Hazy]

Wait a second, I thought Geography WAS mandatory in schools here...
Here in Florida, we take Geography from 3rd grade up.

But then again, that's just Florida. Whether other states abide by this is beyond me.

 

[El Poncho]

I don't know what it's like in America but in my High school in 1st and 2nd year we get Geography, History and Modern Studies, then in 3rd year we choose one of them.

 

[Nincompoop]

I don't see the point in teaching 'Google-knowledge' in schools...

 

[The Sandwich]

I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh...people out there in our nation don't have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, 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., err, uh, 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.

 

[The_Healer]

Well if raising the student suicide rate is desirable, then mandatory geography is a resounding yes!
But on the other hand, those who do it (and don't take their own lives due to boredom) will be less baffled by other cultures (and hence the USA's reputation of being ignorant MIGHT dissipate).

So which is the lesser evil?

 

[Legion]

I don't see the point in teaching 'Google-knowledge' in schools...

So people can use their own brains rather than relying on a computer perhaps? It's quite embarrassing the things some people don't know these days.

Everyone should be shown a globe and taught to remember all the most influential countries and the general location of most others. Basic knowledge should be known, especially considering how many Americans do not seem to know the difference between Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[Pumpkin_Eater]

I grew up in a pretty good district, where it actually was mandatory in middle school. I'm always pretty baffled when people don't know where a major country or city is.

 

[Proteus214]

Wait a second, I thought Geography WAS mandatory in schools here...
Here in Florida, we take Geography from 3rd grade up.

This, i remember doing quite a bit on geography growing up. Not to mention i know where most things on this planet are. Whether or not people retain the info is a seperate thing.

True, geography was a subject that I went through little by little from the early years of elementary school to high school. It is also true, that nobody retains the info. Americans have this terrible "all or nothing syndrome" where anything that they feel does not directly affect their lives is not worth pursuing or remembering. I'm so happy that I come from a family of intellectuals that valued this kind of information and taught me that there is a reason why subjects such as this are taught in schools.

 

[Jedoro]

When people seem to forget there is a little pond between the US and the Middle East, or Europe for that matter, then yes, Geography should be mandatory country-wide.

 

[Styphax]

I feel that this is a slippery slope when it comes to emphasizing topics. Let me qualify what I'm about to say by saying I'm an Urban Planning student, which is basically Geography, Sociology and bunch of other things mixed together. While knowing Geography is definitely important when you're going to be living in a very small international world; I become disturbed with the notion that knowing where something is can alleviate the lack of knowledge about a particular region. I know that particle physics exists, but I don't think I'm more intelligent about the matter (no pun intended) just by knowing what it is to a degree. You have to remember that Geography is a very broad thing at least when it comes to world geography, If it were taught consistently from a young age, like different years focusing on different world regions then it could be much more successful, as kids would learn more in depth information about different cultures, and that could actually be helpful to the world.

However Just tacking on a year, or semester of Geography to High School or college curricula doesn't really address the point IMO. After all that soapboxing, I'd like to conclude by saying good post.

 

[letsnoobtehpwns]

When I was a freshmen is highschool, I took geography as an elective. I had to because I signed up for ASB but the assholes who got to choose chose a lazy stoner instead of me so, I got put into that shitty elective. Oh well, at least I can think that I'm better then those dumbfucks at my school who think that Spain in in Central America.

 

[Cabisco]

I took geography at both GSCE and A level (sorry i don't know the american equilivent), and let me tell you no one should be able to name various types of fucking soil. Yet i fucking can. I literally be sick everytime i remember i can name fucking soils. Oh and clouds.

No one should be forced to learn geography, it should be a replacement for capitol punishment.

Oh and if anyone says it's "Advanced Colouring" i will punch them while i name cloud types and various soils. be warned.

rant over, but do you see what geography does to people, why would you want good people to be forced to do it?

 

[Branovices]

I had Geography in middle school and it was just an ordinary public school. I live in Michigan if that matters.

I think basic Cultural Geography would be a better class to have mandatory in public schools.

 

[Nincompoop]

I don't see the point in teaching 'Google-knowledge' in schools...

So people can use their own brains rather than relying on a computer perhaps? It's quite embarrassing the things some people don't know these days.

Everyone should be shown a globe and taught to remember all the most influential countries and the general location of most others. Basic knowledge should be known, especially considering how many Americans do not seem to know the difference between Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why? That's what the internets are for.

No, in all seriousness. I really think we should consider how we use our brain capacity. I shit on geography, because I don't want to memorize something I can easily access on the internet.

We have to use our brains to understand, not just to know bits of information spread tha fuck out.

A person who knows almost everything in cartography with a laptop, vs. a, say, mathematician with a laptop, who knows nothing about cartography.

If they were to be queried.

If asked a cartography question;

The mathematician could easily access all the information he would need from the laptop.

If asked a mathematical question;

The geographic would need prior exposure to the subject. He would have needed an understanding on mathematics, and calculated with it.

 

[Legion]

I don't see the point in teaching 'Google-knowledge' in schools...

So people can use their own brains rather than relying on a computer perhaps? It's quite embarrassing the things some people don't know these days.

Everyone should be shown a globe and taught to remember all the most influential countries and the general location of most others. Basic knowledge should be known, especially considering how many Americans do not seem to know the difference between Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why? That's what the internets are for.

No, in all seriousness. I really think we should consider how we use our brain capacity. I shit on geography, because I don't want to memorize something I can easily access on the internet.

We have to use our brains to understand, not just to know bits of information spread tha fuck out.

A person who knows almost everything in cartography with a laptop, vs. a, say, mathematician with a laptop, who knows nothing about cartography.

If they were to be queried.

If asked a cartography question;

The mathematician could easily access all the information he would need from the laptop.

If asked a mathematical question;

The geographic would need prior exposure to the subject. He would have needed an understanding on mathematics, and calculated with it.

You say that like it's a bad thing. People should strive to be smarter, not to have a machine do all their thinking for them.

 

[oppp7]

Wait a second, I thought Geography WAS mandatory in schools here...
Here in Florida, we take Geography from 3rd grade up.

But then again, that's just Florida. Whether other states abide by this is beyond me.

It's not like that here in Maryland.

 

[Hazy]

Wait a second, I thought Geography WAS mandatory in schools here...
Here in Florida, we take Geography from 3rd grade up.

But then again, that's just Florida. Whether other states abide by this is beyond me.

It's not like that here in Maryland.

As I suspected. Not every state abides by it.

 

[oppp7]

When I was a freshmen is highschool, I took geography as an elective. I had to because I signed up for ASB but the assholes who got to choose chose a lazy stoner instead of me so, I got put into that shitty elective. Oh well, at least I can think that I'm better then those dumbfucks at my school who think that Spain in in Central America.

Lol, the funny part is that there are people who think Spain's in Central America (I've met them).
OT: yes, I also took geography as an elective (aka filler class) but was glad I did.