The result of the tests recently administered by the National Association of Educational Progress reinforced the already depressing statistics on public education in the U.S. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, as the test is called, is among other things known as the "nation's geography report card."
Only 20 percent of high school seniors tested were judged to be "proficient or better", slightly more than when the last test was given in 2010. 27 percent of eighth graders were judged to be so. Many were discouraged, not just by the continuing poor performance of the U.S.'s educational system, (typical of contemporary thinking in the U.S., the system was blamed), but by the low geography scores in particular. "Geography is not just about maps" said David Driscoll, chairman of the National Assessment Governing Board, "it is a rich and varied discipline that, now more than ever, is vital to understanding the connection between our global economy, environment, and diverse cultures." While I didn't take the time myself to follow the thread that connects geography to the global economy, Driscoll is correct. Geography is important. It is unfortunate that disciplines such as geography feel compelled to state their case in terms of their benefit to the economy but such are the times we live in.
It is noteworthy that in the attempts to put forward the importance of geography a much more potent opportunity was missed. A better understanding of geography on the part of the American public might have prevented a few reckless adventures on the part of the U.S. Throw in a smattering of world history and billions of dollars and thousands of lives could be saved.
You can blame teachers if you like. That would be the easiest thing to do. But it has been some time since teachers and schools have had control over what is taught in their classrooms. As troublesome as that is, they increasingly have less control over how things are taught in their classrooms. The blame lies elsewhere. It lay in an effort to identify just the right mix of facts and methods needed to create the effective little economic and scientific engines needed to drive America through the 21st century. If scores in geography are poor it is because the emphasis on geography is small. One can only imagine what the results of a national assessment on literature or art would be. Fortunately, literature and art are not essential to maintaining America's competitive edge. If they were, chances are we would be doomed.
