An interesting article

[Chebasaz]

FOXNews.com - Dumb and Dumber? What Are College Kids Learning About Our Country?

I don't think this is news to anyone here, but I'm glad to see it in print.

Edit: I suppose I need to clarify what direction I"m looking to take this discussion. It's always depressed me that a large majority of students couldn't point out the states on a map, or knew where Iraq was. Even after graduating college! There are many classes taken during college that are quickly forgotten and were of limited practical use in the first place.

So I guess my questions are -

What exactly are students today learning in traditional colleges?
How many of those electives are necessary, and how many actually teach something of value?
What kind of education are traditional students really getting? What's the actual value?

I know this is an old argument, but I still rail against the 120 credit requirement for most degrees. Hard sciences and mathematics do need to be tempered with Humanities, but I think you could carve 30 credits off of the requirement and still have a well-rounded student. Heck, make a foreign language a requirement instead of those 30 credits. Open people's eyes and minds up to other cultures. I think they'll be much more well-rounded doing that than taking - Starcraft for College Students.

If you absolutely have to have 120 credits, use those credits to reinforce the core classes for your degree. Maybe then we'll get people (with the power to vote!!!) who know what the Declaration of Independence is... and why it was so important.

Anyway, getting off my soapbox now.

Cheers,

[eyrobinson]

I totally understand....I had to argue with one of my peers a few weeks ago about whether there were 50 or 52 states...even his mom was saying there were 52 states. Pretty sad...

[ShotoJuku]

I totally understand....I had to argue with one of my peers a few weeks ago about whether there were 50 or 52 states...even his mom was saying there were 52 states. Pretty sad...

[COLOR="Navy"]50, 52 - both wrong!

There's just 46 US States...plus...4 commonwealths - Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

Just kidding of course, although it can be a matter of semantics or just have fun with heads.

God Bless the 50 US States!!! :patriot:[/COLOR]

[rickyjo]

As somebody who is interested in politics I took an AP US Govt. class and got 8% higher on the final than anybody else in the class--the only A. I did not work particularly hard in high school, nor do I consider myself especially smart or that great of a test taker, the majority of the class failed (and they were smart kids!). If my peers had gone into the class knowing much of anything on the topic somebody could easily have bested me. I didn't study much and the test was challenging, but not hard.

People need to understand how much government will impact their lives when they get into the real world.

As for odd classes like the one mentioned by the OP....I took a look and maybe it has some value? Let's call a general and see if it is at all applicable to real war at all. I love starcraft, and it is a brain-bending game--so maybe? Also it mentions Game Theory, I know that has value. If this focuses on game theory then I would respectfully submit that the class is useful. Game theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[bricabrac]

50, 52 - both wrong!

There's just 46 US States...plus...4 commonwealths - Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

Just kidding of course, although it can be a matter of semantics or just have fun with heads.

God Bless the 50 US States!!! :patriot:

Hi ShotoJuku,

Just made note of your comment....I've always said 50 states but was aware of the commonwealths (although not about Kentucky!)....thanks for the insight..with my luck it will end up on a test somewhere down the line!!!

[Katterina]

I was taught those subjects in elementary school... public school, mind you! (And I'm under 30 ) Why aren't these subjects being taught in the high schools, at very least?

[ShotoJuku]

Hi ShotoJuku,

Just made note of your comment....I've always said 50 states but was aware of the commonwealths (although not about Kentucky!)....thanks for the insight..with my luck it will end up on a test somewhere down the line!!!

It's kind of wacky trivia that doesn't change a thing but it does get you some interesting looks. :toetap:

[MISin08]

Interesting. The NYT ran an article a few weeks ago about how demand for degrees that teach general knowledge is waning (and majors disappearing as a result) as parents and students increasingly want degrees with immediate job applicability. Of course, basic geography knowledge -- to name only one such subject -- shouldn't be a college outcome, it should be an entrance criterion...

Phillip

[Ruddigore]

Of course, basic geography knowledge -- to name only one such subject -- shouldn't be a college outcome, it should be an entrance criterion...

Amen to that. I really don't see why it's so hard. Just from looking at the globe (and singing some Geography songs) I was able to memorize all the countries of the world before I was 14. You'd think college students should have a bit of US-related knowledge leftover from highschool. I'll never be able to watch "Are you Smarter than a Fifth-Grader" without grimacing. Ah well.

Homeschooled & Proud milelol:
R.

[Chebasaz]

I was thinking about that earlier. We learned a song in the 4th grade that listed all 50 states (/cringes from Shoto). I'm 32 years old now, and I still remember that entire song (and therefore all 50'sh states). Crazy stuff, but it works.

Smarter than a 5th grader is painful to watch sometimes. Of course, our society has lately made it a habit to celebrate idiocy. I'm still waiting for the day when scientists are given the same celebrity status as Lindsey Lohan.....