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Pick a random 18 year old and see if they can point to the country of Argentina on a map. The populace can read but not much else.
by supperburg 5y ago
Pick a random 18 year old and see if they can point to the country of Argentina on a map. The populace can read but not much else.
- jeffbee 5y agoSpeaking as a person confident that I could point out Argentina on a map, why is geographic trivia a very important topic? I'd rather have a population with a good understanding of means and medians, thermodynamics, and the relationship between rates and accumulations, than one that can readily tell me the year that William the Conqueror invaded England.
- supperburg 5y agoI agree but the point is that knowledge of the countries of the world is the most basic sign of education besides reading. The average 18 year old knows even less about science than geography. But geography is important because not knowing it is extremely embarrassing.
- boomboomsubban 5y agoKnowledge about other countries is useful, geography less so. It would be just as embarrassing to have a conversation with an Argentinian and say "so what's it like living near Chile?"
- xenophonf 5y agoBecause literacy and numeracy are necessary but not sufficient for an educated polity. A good understanding of society, of history, of philosophy, and more all factor in. As do good critical thinking skills.
- munificent 5y ago...and before widespread public education, many of them couldn't even read.
- supperburg 5y agoBetween then and now they were educated well and the United States was the best in the world in education. You fool.