As a Canadian, I know the wrath that my fellow Canucks rain down on anyone who mistakes us for Americans. We may sound the same but other than that... So let's compare us in terms of our knowledge of geography. Over in the UK, we laugh at Fox's mapping errors but why didn't anyone catch it?
Though it's funny to spread around that Americans don't know their geography, it resonates in me as an opportunity to reflect on the difference in education in the states vs Canada. In the US, education is inward focused. Students (in Primary and Secondary school) learn about America and it's states, memorize the capitals and their spellings, but, according to my cousins who grew up there, little else.
You can see this in action if you have ever watched the game show Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebec. It's funny to watch the obviously highly intelligent contestents answer Advanced Astrophysics questions and then fall apart at a Canadian Geography category. Every question becomes "what is Ontario" and "What is Toronto" as if no other place exists North of the border.
In Canada, it seems we learn about almost everyone else but ourselves. We do a brief run down of Canadian history and geography when we are 10 and then it's off to the global races. Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and of course America. We too have to learn the names of the states and their capitals.
With the downturn of the economy, cuts to education, overcrowded classrooms and overworked/ under qualified teachers, I have to wonder if geography is the only thing that is going to continue to be effected. Or will only the rich be able to be educated in the birth lotto that happens throughout the states.
Even worse, we now have to look to the UK as we watch the same thing happen to our education system. Will the Conservative gift of funding cuts, tuition hikes and over stressed teachers lead us in the same direction as the states. Give it 10 years and see how many maps we start getting wrong.
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