class economy and culture for the future.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/02/D8HBMF5O0.html
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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."
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