US teens: Iraq is where?

2006-05-03 22:46

Washington - Even though their country has been at war there for three years, six in 10 young Americans are unable to locate Iraq on a map of the world.

According to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic, the young Americans faired little better with their own country.

Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, one-third of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 could not locate Louisiana on a map of the US.

Nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi.

Announcing a programme to help remedy the problem, National Geographic president John Fahey said: "Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world.".

The programme is hoping to enlist businesses, non-profit groups and teachers in a bid to improve geographic literacy.

The five-year, multimedia campaign, called "My Wonderful World", will target children aged eight to 17.

Motivating parents to expand geographic offerings

The goal is to motivate parents and teachers to expand geographic offerings in school, at home and in their communities.

They will have their task cut out for them though, judging by the results of the survey of 510 young Americans interviewed in December and January.

Among the findings:

One-third of respondents couldn't pinpoint Louisiana on a map and 48% were unable to locate Mississippi.

Less than three in 10 think it important to know the locations of countries in the news, and 14% believe speaking another language is a necessary skill.

Two-thirds didn't know the earthquake that killed 70 000 people in October occurred in Pakistan.

Six in 10 could not find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major US business story, 47% could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

The Israeli-Palestinian strife has been in the news for all their lives', but 75% of respondent could not locate Israel on a map of the Middle East.

'Geography exposes children to diverse cultures'

Nearly three-quarters - incorrectly - said English was the most widely spoken native language.

Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

President of the national PTA, Anna Marie Weselak, said: "Geography exposes children and adults to diverse cultures, different ideas and the exchange of knowledge from around the world.

"This campaign will help make sure our children get their geography - so they can become familiar with other cultures during their school years and move comfortably and confidently in a global economy as adults."

- AP