Well, it's not just Americans these days. Some people don't find it nessecary to be able to read a map because Siri or Google will just tell them where it is.

Not saying that it's a good thing but that's just how the latest generations have become.

(May 20, 2016 at 10:25 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Meh. That's not as bad as I expected with Min's audible sigh.

Geography isn't everyone's strong suit. Especially when I can say "OK Google, where is Estonia?" and my phone will tell me.

This is an argument used against the youngest generations. Young Americans, according to surveys dating back 40+ years, are always really stupid when it comes to this kind of stuff. But now we can look these ups instantly, we have a sea of knowledge at our fingertips. So now not knowing can be blamed on peoples' ignorance and misuse of such an incredible device. We're the first generation with the ability to get almost instantly informed yet we on average do not use it for that purpose, which turns our stupidity into ignorance.

I don't necessarily agree with that, but it's relevant. I think, at least. I forgot my point as I was typing.

Quote:Its being able to apply what you've experienced and learned through out your life to your advantage. To reach your potential in life.

Quote:It was by the sober sense of our citizens that we were safely and steadily conducted from monarchy to republicanism, and it is by the same agency alone we can be kept from falling back.
James Madison

I'm more inclined to agree with Madison.

(May 20, 2016 at 11:52 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

Quote:Its being able to apply what you've experienced and learned through out your life to your advantage. To reach your potential in life.

Quote:It was by the sober sense of our citizens that we were safely and steadily conducted from monarchy to republicanism, and it is by the same agency alone we can be kept from falling back.
James Madison

I'm more inclined to agree with Madison.

Agree with whomever you wish. Though i'm not really sure what that was to do with anything i typed. 

So do you think intelligence should only be based on repeating like a parrot what has been taught to you? I always thought one should inquire much further than that and not limit themselves.

I never much cared for how the curriculum was designed when I was a student. To be honest, I remember only that which interested me personally, and that did not include science or math or history.

I can understand designing a curriculum around history whereby teaching the younger generations to not make the same mistakes of the past, but to memorize useless history facts is just useless.

When it comes to science, one really only needs to understand that science is real as opposed to fiction.

Math has to be the worst. There is absolutely no need for higher math to be taught. The general population has no need for it. At all.

This entire well rounded idea has not panned out whatsoever. It is time to change things so that students learn what they want to learn.

(May 21, 2016 at 12:22 am)Maelstrom Wrote: I never much cared for how the curriculum was designed when I was a student.  To be honest, I remember only that which interested me personally, and that did not include science or math or history.

I can understand designing a curriculum around history whereby teaching the younger generations to not make the same mistakes of the past, but to memorize useless history facts is just useless.

When it comes to science, one really only needs to understand that science is real as opposed to fiction.

Math has to be the worst.  There is absolutely no need for higher math to be taught.  The general population has no need for it.  At all.

This entire well rounded idea has not panned out whatsoever.  It is time to change things so that students learn what they want to learn.

Higher maths isn't compulsory. Well at least not in the UK. I always found science interesting but I was never that good at it. I suck at maths too.

I do agree with what someone else just posted, though.

School today seems to be all about memorization. Memorization does not equate to remembering for the rest of one's life.

In fact, I am great at memorizing for tests and acing those tests, but a few days later I cannot remember any of what I had memorized.

That is what American schools have become. Memorization for the test. It is utterly sad.

I think the results would be worse if you asked Europeans to place American states on the map.

There's a few I might be able to guess right. I was surprised that some of those examples didn't even guess where Germany was, if you learned about the 1st and Second World War in history I would think you could possibly guess where Germany is.

Here is the thing about education: one only truly retains knowledge of that which one is interested in learning.

It is one of the reasons why Europe has this curriculum set up where you only study for the career you want. There is none of the bullshit where you have to take unnecessary classes that merely weigh you down intellectually and veritably sucks your motivation.

(May 21, 2016 at 12:51 am)paulpablo Wrote: I think the results would be worse if you asked Europeans to place American states on the map.

There's a few I might be able to guess right. I was surprised that some of those examples didn't even guess where Germany was, if you learned about the 1st and Second World War in history I would think you could possibly guess where Germany is.

American geography is definitely something I should probably get better at.