Test your state knowledge
In my random browsing of the stuff on the Internet (but not at work, I promise, Lamar) I came across a couple of thing I thought were worth sharing. The first one is a test of the 50 states: How many can you get without cheating? I got 42...which is miserable. The second is a Scientific American map of where evolution is taught in American schools, by state. Some of the states are surprising...for example, South Carolina; my home state and what I assumed would be a bastion of anti-evolutionary teachings, is just 1 of 9 states with an "excellent" rating. Anybody beat 42 states? I tried starting in Florida, going up the east coast, down the Midwest and back up the west coast...missed a couple bigs ones, like Colorado and Iowa.
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Submitted by vwwife on Wed, 04/04/2007 - 1:18pm.
I remember my 5th grade teacher "ponding" the states in our heads! But for some reason I had a mental block on Connecticut today!
Submitted by jimmaxie on Wed, 04/04/2007 - 5:11pm.
MY 5th GRADER JUST took this test at school w/the capitals He got 100%. no I am not smarter than a 5th grader so I won't even go there
Today makes Tommorow
Submitted by JoeWilhelm on Thu, 04/05/2007 - 11:08am.
I made it to 49 before finally giving up and discovering the land of cheeseheads was left off of my list. That's what the superior education at an elite SEC school will get you. It's too bad Mr. Bennett will never know how that feels.Go Gators!
Submitted by ChanelMartin on Sat, 04/07/2007 - 1:24am.
I made it all the way to 49 but somehow New Hampshire was just not elite enough to make it into my memory. I'll try it again in a week and see if I get the same result! There is a timed puzzle online where you have to put all the states together on a map - now there's something to make you learn the U.S.A.! If I can find it, I'll post it here. People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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The evolution site was very interesting.... My son is 8th grade & honestly, I gues I have never really asked him about "evolution" in schools... I also have a friend who just retired this year from teaching.. I think I'll forward this on to her and ask her!
The Scientific American map on evolution was one eye opener, although I was only surprised by one result. My home state of Illinois was in the dumpster. I'm from Chicago, graduated high school in '67. Even with my ancient memory, I can remember having rather good grounding in subjects like general science, geography and history, along with the basic subjects.
My wife and I don't have children so we don't have the same close interest in teaching that most parents have. One has to wonder how this national shame came to be. The high school I attended was a private, all boys, Catholic colege prep school & I certainly remember being taught more than the basics in evolution. All in all, not bad for a Catholic institution. Even turning aside the recent arguments of creationism, or intelligent design, if you prefer, it still does not explain the deplorable ignorance of a basic science topic.
Every so often, polls come out showing Americans having an unbelievable lack of even basic knowlege in science, mathematics, geography, history and communication skill. This does note bode well for the future of our country.