posted July 19, 2008
Geographic literacy is one of the most important skills that we can give our children. Our world is becoming small, and our global economies are intertwined. The world no longer revolves around the U.S. alone. We must all recognize the fact that we are global citizens and that history plays out on a global stage now not a national one.
According to the website for the new Signal Mountain Middle/High School (www.signalmountainhighschool.com), the social studies curriculum lists Contemporary Issues, World History, U.S. History and AP U.S. History. Geography is not listed and is not incorporated in any of these subjects. This is disturbing when the United States continues to lag behind the rest of the world in geographic knowledge.
The Associated Press reported in May 2006 that of 500 students polled, one third could not pinpoint Louisiana, six in ten couldn’t locate Iraq, 75 percent could not find Israel on a map, and 47 percent could not find the Indian subcontinent. In the 2006 National Geographic-Roper Survey of Geographic Literacy of Americans aged 18 to 24, nine in 10 could not find Afghanistan on a map of Asia, half could not find New York on a map, one-fifth thought Sudan is in Asia, three-quarters failed to find Indonesia on a map, and when told they could escape an approaching hurricane by evacuating to the northwest, only a third could indicate which way northwest is on a map.
Geography seeks a deep understanding of the world and all its natural and human complexities. Through Geography students are able to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of phenomena, the processes that create these phenomena, and the interaction between human and natural components of the world around them. Geography is an all-encompassing discipline, which forms a bridge between the human and physical sciences. Indeed, Geography, including fieldwork, is relevant and important and deserves to be taught as a separate subject. Geography helps make sense of the world in which we live. Geographic illiteracy is more than just ignorance – it is arrogance.
Dr. J. Rice
National Geographic Teacher Consultant
Advanced Professional Certification for Teachers of Geography
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I have to agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. Without knowledge of where places are - you can't understand what is going on.
It is vitally important for Americans to have a good concept of the location of countries in the world. Without it, one cannot understand the geo-politics of the various regions and have an informed opinion. It speaks volumes about the centricity of the American people.
Geography's value is usually overlooked - much to the detriment of our children and our society.
Gregg Juster
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When I was in grammar school, one of the most popular games was the Geo-Bee. It was done similarly to a spelling bee. The teacher would put typed names of places in a big fishbowl and once a week we got to play.
Each child took turns pulling a paper out of the bowl and finding that location on a big map at the front of the room. If you missed, you were out of the game.
This became so competitive and was so much fun we didn't realize we were learning. Would this be something teachers could implement in conjunction with some of the other social studies classes? It doesn't cost much and can be quite instructive.
Robbie Moore
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Here is the problem:
The State of Tennessee states in order to graduate a student must pass either world geography or world history. Students may take both classes but are not required to do so
I have always heard history teachers are a "dime a dozen." Currently, most universities are not producing that many geography or government teachers. So administrators are having to decide to scrap geography or cut back on the number of sections taught.
Which is more important, world history or world geography? Both are equally important.
Matt Henson
World/AP US History Teacher
Ooltewah High School
henson_matthew@hcde.
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