Are Americans really this stupid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

When I moved here from Pittsburgh for a job, I told my new DC & MD colleagues at work that I was from PA.

What part? Pittsburgh.

Oh cool, I know someone from Philly...maybe you know them...their name is XYZ.

Seriously.

To be fair that's a lot of P-words to keep track of.

lol...it really is. Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.
It's too much.
Why do we need to know them all anyway?
My brain can't take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

[Anonymous]

I live in DC but am originally from Scotland. Back when I was single I went on a date with an American that I met online. Nice guy, but when he complemented me on my English I knew it wouldn’t last.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

How about you tell us what you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

How about you tell us what you think?

I’m the PP and I actually think it’s just social media. People go for easy entertainment and there is no value in memorizing facts. They know they can look up anything in seconds.

I’m negative about DOE because I have a kid with a learning disability and the federally mandated system is a failure. I take every opportunity to bash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

How about you tell us what you think?

I’m the PP and I actually think it’s just social media. People go for easy entertainment and there is no value in memorizing facts. They know they can look up anything in seconds.

I’m negative about DOE because I have a kid with a learning disability and the federally mandated system is a failure. I take every opportunity to bash.

Ok. Thank you for your honesty.
If you have some real data that shows that since DoE was established things(test scores, outcomes, etc) have gone down, please share them.

I'm old, but I couldn't imagine not knowing where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were. I have 3 kids and if they didn't know, I'd think I had failed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, sorry but I don't think it's excusable to be able to know the Atlantic is east coast/Pac west. That's not even US geography but knowing about 7 seas. Not even all 7 but the 2 closest to our country. I'm not talking state capitals, names of all states or even anything more sophisticated than tracking 2 large bodies of water. If you look at google maps you would likely notice the names of the ocean if you're looking at a coast of a state east and west. That's somewhat education but it's also observation. That Americans can't even track anything obvious is so sad. While most people in other countries are bi/trilingual, we can't even distinguish between 2 oceans. I think that's really amazingly devastatingly sad.

I also think that on some level basic elementary school geography should offer up this knowledge.

OP here. This was pretty much my thinking. I recall being taught about the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in very early elementary school, certainly by second grade. Granted these were women in their 30s, but it really made me wonder about the consistency of education in America and whether basic geography is taught in schools today. I have heard that things like penmanship and spelling are no longer emphasized in schools, and I certainly hope basic geography is not another casualty of the internet era where people can look anything up but apparently rarely do.

I wrote curriculum for a non-AP geography elective. Potential teachers were excited. No student ever signed up for it. Not a single one in the entire district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

How about you tell us what you think?

I’m the PP and I actually think it’s just social media. People go for easy entertainment and there is no value in memorizing facts. They know they can look up anything in seconds.

I’m negative about DOE because I have a kid with a learning disability and the federally mandated system is a failure. I take every opportunity to bash.

Ok. Thank you for your honesty.
If you have some real data that shows that since DoE was established things(test scores, outcomes, etc) have gone down, please share them.

I'm old, but I couldn't imagine not knowing where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were. I have 3 kids and if they didn't know, I'd think I had failed them.

I don’t have data. The premise of this thread is that Americans are dumber than we used to be and we allegedly used to know x, y, and z. Since DOE was established in 1980 and this dumbing down must of happened in people’s memory (or they’re just making crap up), then the timeframe stands.

My kids know the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific, can name the three branches of government, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Narragansett Bay part of the Pacific Ocean?

Dear lord.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they were kidding?

[Anonymous]

News Flash:
Tons of public school kids are more focused on staying safe, and not getting assaulted in the bathrooms, or even in the classrooms.
Education is tough when you have more pressing concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in DC but am originally from Scotland. Back when I was single I went on a date with an American that I met online. Nice guy, but when he complemented me on my English I knew it wouldn’t last.

Complimented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

How about you tell us what you think?

I’m the PP and I actually think it’s just social media. People go for easy entertainment and there is no value in memorizing facts. They know they can look up anything in seconds.

I’m negative about DOE because I have a kid with a learning disability and the federally mandated system is a failure. I take every opportunity to bash.

Ok. Thank you for your honesty.
If you have some real data that shows that since DoE was established things(test scores, outcomes, etc) have gone down, please share them.

I'm old, but I couldn't imagine not knowing where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were. I have 3 kids and if they didn't know, I'd think I had failed them.

I don’t have data. The premise of this thread is that Americans are dumber than we used to be and we allegedly used to know x, y, and z. Since DOE was established in 1980 and this dumbing down must of happened in people’s memory (or they’re just making crap up), then the timeframe stands.

My kids know the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific, can name the three branches of government, etc.

Must have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
News Flash:
Tons of public school kids are more focused on staying safe, and not getting assaulted in the bathrooms, or even in the classrooms.
Education is tough when you have more pressing concerns.

DEI wins when schools keep violent kids in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is more ignorant than the people she is mocking. They are going out to explore the world, while OP prides herself on trivia.

https://fs.blog/richard-feynman-knowing-something/

OP here. As others have pointed out, knowing the names of the two oceans that border our country is not trivia (or trivial), but just basic information that any fully functioning American adult (or child for that matter) should know. But you’re right, I’m sure she could have delivered a lecture on ocean currents, tidal basins and other matters related to oceanography.

Why would it have to be oceanography? Maybe she could have delivered a lecture on the soil food web, or the different classifications of curly hair types, or performed open heart surgery, or told you the best cleaning agents for every possible stain on every possible surface. But she couldn’t remember if the ocean she has never seen before is called the Atlantic or the Pacific, so she’s stupid and you’re smart. Congratulations. Here’s your prize.

Because everyone who graduates highschool should know the names and locations of continents and oceans FFS.

Why?

Why know anything? Why even learn your own name?

Why not respond to a very simple question with rhetorical questions rather than take the time to think about it?

Why can't you respond to questions? It cuts both ways.

I asked the question first. And, more importantly, I asked the person making the claim to explain their reasoning. You are asking the equivalent of “well how do YOU know God DOESN’T exist?!”

You (or a different PP) said that “everyone who graduates high school should know the names and locations of continents and oceans”. Can you even explain what a continent is? Where does one continent end and another begin? What an ocean is? Where does one ocean end and another begin? What is the purpose of these designations?

And then explain why those of us who graduated high school 20 years ago would have named four oceans while those graduating high school now will name five? And yet, at the time of graduation, we were all “correct”? Did a brand new ocean spring out of the ether?