One-Third of Young Americans Can't Find Louisiana (and that's just the beginning)

[E. Bison]

I can't even find my own socks let alone a WHOLE state? What are you mad?

 

[ScottyBBadd]

Your point.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

You and me both. ****in Humid-subtropical state.

It seems like it's been hotter the last several years.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

By Randolph E. Schmid
Associated Press
posted: 02 May 2006
04:13 pm ET


WASHINGTON (AP)—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.

This isn't surprising. I thought it would be worse than that. How many young Americans can name the first 5 Presidents w/out a search engine or reference tool?

 

[oakzap425]

Most American's can Barely speak English...

I think finding a state on a map is the least of our (not me, in particular) problems...

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

In other words Americans are dumb.

.................

That`s something i already know.But not all,i know some who can use a map and point to locations on a globe.It just goes to show that America IS being run by fools.

 

[Admiral_N8]

Most people can figure out most of the states, its smaller ones like NH and VT that most people confuse

 

[tzarinna]

Americans work too much and focus so little on their kids. If both parents don't work making ends meet is a major hardship.It's a viciuos cycle.The kids are home hours before their parents. It's not an excuse but it's a big part of the problem. Businesses do not want to hear you have to take off to resolve family issues. It's very sad and scary.

I was raised by my grandmother, public school teacher, and my father.
My mom wasn't really a capable parent then or now, I think would be a totally different person if she had a hand in my upbringing.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

My grandmother bought me a globe when I was 11, and I really got into it. I studied where all the different countries were, and later on when I was about 13 or so I bought a World Atlas. Now I could pinpoint the location of nearly all of the countries in the world on an unmarked globe, except for perhaps a few in Oceania and Africa. Europe, Asia, Latin America- I could find any there.

As for foreign languages, I started learning Spanish when I was 14 and I'm still not fluent but I'd say I'm definitely proficient now(I'm 18). I've also started to learn Italian in the last few months.

I think one of the primary reasons I have a more globalized take than most young Americans is that I spent a lot of time on the net. Being able to talk to anyone from anywhere around the world just made the outside world seem a lot more tangible to me then it would have had I not spent much time talking to people from other places.

So there are downsides to very frequent net use, but I guess theres an upside too. I bet that if you studied it the more social and outgoing the person is, the less they probably know about foreign countries, geography etc.

 

[Mentok]

This is why we invented GPS anyway

 

[Shuley]

Our public school system rocks!

The public school systems are fine, just kids don't wanna listen.That's not the school's fault.

 

[Karem-Knight]

Well, 1/3rd of Young Americans are Emo's.

 

[cyborg ninja 14]

Big deal, FEMA couldnt find Louisiana either

 

[chamber-music]

Big Surprise. People in Louisiana can't find Louisiana.