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I get kidded by New Zealanders about many Americans not knowing where their country is located or that it is part of Australia. And they are right, many of my countrymen have an appaling lack of knowledge when it comes to Geography. When I was in elementary school, I can remember doing freehand drawings of the continents, of course that was a long time ago when it was the "Belgium Congo", "German East Africa" and Sri Lanka was Ceylon, and it was French Indo China before Viet Nam. We drew maps of the U.S. as well, memorised the sates and their capitals. Met some Americans that came off a big cruise ship last month here in Christchurch and they were saying how much they enjoyed visiting Australia. After spending three days at different ports in New Zealand they will go home now and tell all their friends about this country. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

Not surprising Lon!! I'm a geography nut myself and memorized all the capitals when I was young. I still know them but Pacific island nations and the smaller Caribbean island states stump me! A co-worker visited Greece a couple years ago and I asked if he'd seen the Parthenon. He replied they didn't go to any nightclubs. Sigh.....and we are the supposed rulers of the world!!!!!

It is difficult keeping up with the changes in countries, their names and new capitals. The former Soviet states in Central Asia took me forever to memorize. I don't think any US student should be able to leave school until he/she is fluent in at least two other languages, knows 80% of the world nations list and their capitals and major cities and know US history by memory. Japan and other industrialized countries have acheived this and more. Education is not appreciated here. Credit cards, boobs and sports are king instead.

David813 wrote: It is difficult keeping up with the changes in countries, their names and new capitals. The former Soviet states in Central Asia took me forever to memorize. I don't think any US student should be able to leave school until he/she is fluent in at least two other languages, knows 80% of the world nations list and their capitals and major cities and know US history by memory. Japan and other industrialized countries have acheived this and more. Education is not appreciated here. Credit cards, boobs and sports are king instead.you realize, of course, with those prerequisites, most kids would graduate from high school at thirty five.

True it would be hard at first but I have faith in the US student to acheive at or higher than our foreign counterparts. I only know one language and I'm a total DOLT at math. I would flunk myself!!! Heightening our educational standards is essential. Abolishing sports in high school would help.

David813 wrote: Abolishing sports in high school would help.SPORTS, (my son a pitching phenom actually), paid for my HONOR student's entire 4 year college education. granted, he was fortunate. but sports have much to recommend them.

The health issue is important I realize but the high schools in this area at least are almost just sports centers. Kids that can't spell or read are playing ball 7 days a week till 11pm. Workouts at different periods of the day would be enough. For accomplished athletes like LC mentioned, more power to them as long as they make the grade and keep it that way.

i do agree that many young people think sports is the ticket to fame and riches and don't concentrate on other important matters. we can thank a lot of different influences for that, but in actuality, it is realistic in only a few cases. my son ( a 6'5" lefty throwing in the 90's) was chosen in the major league draft three days after HS graduation, and when the scout came to our house he said NO i am going to college! i was so proud of him for that. i didn't want him riding that coke train at age 18....sorry i went off-topic.

I cook for a ski club during the winter. Most of the members are from NJ and we lost several members this year because thier kids were involved in athletic programs.. the kicker is that they have to sign a contract if they make the team.. can't miss practices or events ... even over vacation time. And if they do they are off the team.. I was shocked.... I mean these are Jr. H.S and HS students.. whatever happened to education and having fun in school..

The six O clock news last year had a segment interviewing some teenagers at the mall. They were asked "What year was the U.S. Civil War" Responses were----1920-----1944. None could name the VP of the U.S.

Education is not appreciated here.


I'd have to disagree with you on that one. Education is certainly appreciated here...it is difficult to find a good job without some kind of college degree. The problem, in my opinion, is that in the USA we don't know how to efficiently go about educating our children; i.e. we poorly allocate funds and resources.

It is also unfair to compare the educational level of this country to that of others. Our students spend a national average of 180 days per year in school, with an average of 5.5 instructional hours per day. Over one year, that means our students spend...roughly 990 hrs per year learning, for an average of 12,870 hours of mandatory education over a student's career.

Now, let's throw those numbers against the education system of, say, Japan. There, students spend an national average of 240 days per year in school, for an average of 6 instructional hors per day. Over one year, that means their students spend 1,440 hrs in education, for an average of 18,720 hours of mandatory education over a student's career.

That nearly 6,000 extra hours can really make a difference.

Hawke wrote: I'd have to disagree with you on that one. Education is certainly appreciated here...it is difficult to find a good job without some kind of college degree. The problem, in my opinion, is that in the USA we don't know how to efficiently go about educating our children; i.e. we poorly allocate funds and resources.



It is also unfair to compare the educational level of this country to that of others. Our students spend a national average of 180 days per year in school, with an average of 5.5 instructional hours per day. Over one year, that means our students spend...roughly 990 hrs per year learning, for an average of 12,870 hours of mandatory education over a student's career.



Now, let's throw those numbers against the education system of, say, Japan. There, students spend an national average of 240 days per year in school, for an average of 6 instructional hors per day. Over one year, that means their students spend 1,440 hrs in education, for an average of 18,720 hours of mandatory education over a student's career.



That nearly 6,000 extra hours can really make a difference.
There is also a huge difference in the subject matter that is being taught and the availibility of extra curricular activities.