Sad, but true.

http://www.wral.com/only-36-percent-of-americans-can-find-north-korea-on-a-map/16713327/

But, on the bright side,,,, that tells me that 64% of American's must play, or have played, Falcon 4!

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////. That comment means that others will feel a need to respond about a clearly political shot. Surely headed for a move.



On second thought I will just remove the unnecessary part and we'll see how it goes.

Alright OG, was intended to be humorous.

I wonder who they poll for stuff like this, and what the sample size is.

I don't exactly swim in the most educated circles, but every one of them knows where the Koreas are.

Now, then, Tanzania would be a head scratcher....

More like 64% have spent a fair amount of time on Google Earth!

Really? 36% *can* find it, so 64% have looked at a map? How many people were paying attention in maths class?

Young Americans Geographically Illiterate, Survey Suggests
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/0502_060502_geography.html

So that's how North Korea pulled it off in the Red Dawn remake. If we couldn't find them, how could we possibly fight back?
Diabolical.

So geography, reading, math, pick any one?

Honest reason why this is the case: Geography is not seen as a marketable skill that can get you employed right after high school and/or college so it's not emphasized.

I have my own opinions about why all young people should be taught how to string a few cogent thoughts together in a paragraph, basic world history and geography; and how to figure out simple math problems.

Learning how to communicate well and how to do basic math are definitely applicable to most jobs. World history and geography quite honestly are not.

Well, if all one does is to ask "would you like fries with that", that might be true. But try to do business in an international environment, though, without any basic common (intercultural) knowledge (and that includes knowing where my business partner is actually located, and what timezone he's in), and....well, idiocracy, here we come.

Without the above hyperbole: if your job is mostly of "local" nature, you might get by. But focusing on strictly "marketable skills" IMO is a big folly: first, those skills might change in a blink of an eye and become obsolete fast (without frequent, relevant on-the-job-training), and frankly, in a market environment where digitalization might make 70% of currently existing jobs obsolete, the better (more diverse) your education, the better your chances are in an increasingly competitive labor market: if you can chose from a large pool of applicants, do you hire the narrow-minded one-track specialists, or the equally qualified specialist who also has a good general education?

A good, broad general education builds brainpower, and helps immensely with problem solving strategies, especially when lateral thinking is required. It also helps with enhancing your skillset or with learning additional skills.

Low to mid wage blue collar jobs which includes fast food, retail, construction, hospitality, etc. employs the majority of US workers.

You make a very valid point though about automation/digitalization eliminating many of these jobs in the near future though. Humanity overall will need to become higher skilled.

The future is now:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wendys-kiosk-20170227-story.html

http://www.businessinsider.de/self-service-kiosks-are-replacing-workers-2016-5?r=US&IR=T


At least we may still look for a new life that awaits us in the Off-world colonies! A chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure!

I asked my wife, a 29-year accountant for a fortune 100, if she could find Korea on an unlabeled map. Nope.

I would gladly forfeit my elementary knowledge of geography (which could be learned in a day) for her ability to crunch numbers and overall common sense with financial matters.

well maybe she at least was looking in the area of Asia on the map

MarkG's post perfectly illustrates my point. Let's be honest, knowing where a country is on a map in this day and age really does not matter. If you have to get that info, all you do is load up Googlemaps and enter the name of the country.


This "Renaissance Man" humanities education philosophy is really outdated.

I would disagree with that a well-rounded education is an essential IMO. But, education cutbacks, school targets etc has turned education into training

I'd have to check, but I think she'd probably come close or make a lucky guess. Europe, Australia, non-Middle East, no problem, I think.