Young Americans know little about world geography, with the majority unable to locate Iraq on a map and three quarters unable to find Indonesia, according to a study.
The Roper poll conducted on behalf of National Geographic found that most of the young adults questioned between the ages of 18 and 24 also had little knowledge about their own country, with half or fewer unable to identify the states of New York or Ohio on a map.
The report said that despite nearly constant news coverage since the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003, 63 percent of respondents could not find Iraq on a map and 75 percent could not find Israel or Iran.
China fared better than most countries, with seven in ten respondents able to find it on a map. Still, the study found, young Americans have a number of misconceptions about China.
Nearly 75 percent believe English is the most widely spoken native language, rather than Mandarin Chinese, and half think that China is the biggest exporter of goods and services rather than the United States.
The survey was conducted between December 2005 and January 2006 and involved 510 interviews.
Frightening, but not surprising. Thanks again to the teachers union for keeping our kids stupid, and to the politicians afraid to challenge one of America's most destructive lobbying groups.
I just "stumbled" upon your blog and this post...I just want to thank you for not blaming the teachers. Well, not blaming all of them anyway. Some teachers, yes, are to blame but you are right; it's the useless unions and politicians that make kids dumb and frustrate the hell out of us teachers who want to make a difference. Oh and it's also the litigious parents but that's another topic for another day.
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