LtDan6d ago

Are Europeans more well versed with world geography than Americans?

https://lemmy.zip/post/61380209

Are Europeans more well versed with world geography than Americans? - Lemmy.zip

I’ve seen multiple videos equivalent of Americans pointing where (country) is on the map, and there was an instance where the host asked the woman where the continent Africa is located (points to Asia) like WTF? That’s not even close at all. I know there’s bias towards those types of videos since there are accusations of the host “handpicking” select strangers framing them as if they are representative of the US. But the truth is that their education system isn’t good as it lacks funding. When you put it into perspective: how many Europeans can correctly locate & name countries adjacent to them within their own continent and globally? Is the education system within the EU that good or effective at teaching kids that subject?

Show threadKoboldCoterie6d ago
How many Europeans can point out Kansas on a map? I’d bet I could find just as many Europeans ignorant of North American geography as they find Americans ignorant of European geography, especially since, as you point out, they cherry pick the most ignorant sounding responses.
Show threadChe Banana6d ago

Kansas, a state, is not the equivalent of Africa, A continent as pointed out by OP.

OTOH, EU education varies w I d e l y and the American system is overall mediocre

Show threadKoboldCoterie6d ago
I would say Kansas as an American is roughly equivalent to a European country to a European. South America would be the equivalent of Africa, and while I agree that everyone should be able to name the continents, I’m very confident that I could find a European who could not point out South America if I cherry picked enough. I bet I’d get someone pointing to Mexico eventually.
Show threadFatVegan6d ago
What a weird thing to say. You think finding Kansas on a map is equal to finding france on a map?
Show threadMesophar5d ago

Actually, unironocally, kind of? Like, maybe not equating those two examples specifically, but even just looking at the EU, not even all of Europe. There are 27 countries in the EU, and 50 states in the USA. I doubt the average American (USA) would be able to name and/or label all 27 countries in the EU, but would the average citizen of the EU be able to name and/or label 27+ states in the USA? I don’t know, I don’t know what the education system is like, but I doubt it. And while yes, a state is not the same as a country, just from the land mass and population counts, the comparison isn’t too far off.

Yeah, the education in the USA sucks. It is definitely sub-par to many other countries, and definitely lacks in “worldly” knowledge. Part of that is because of lack of funding and prioritizing education. Part of it is from lack of prioritizing foreign affairs and history in the average curriculum. But part of it is also from lack of proximity. An EU citizen learning about European history makes sense. How much do EU citizens learn about the history of China and its provinces? About African countries, their conflicts and politics, and histories?

So yeah, being able to find France on the map might be equivalent to finding Kansas, but it certainly is equivalent to finding Texas or California.

Show threadMiaou3d ago

How much do EU citizens learn about the history of China and its provinces? About African countries, their conflicts and politics, and histories?

Except we’re talking about the USA, you know, a country created just yesterday by Europeans. Let’s not equate this with knowing who was emperor of China 3000 BC.

Show threadMesophar
Who said anything about ancient history? Let’s just look at the last 200 years and see how much there is to know, or not know about those areas. Not to say anything about indiginous peoples. And geography related information? How does that have anything to do with 3000BC? I’m not saying the breadth of the history of the United States is anything compared to European or Asian histories, but unless you were alive for all of that your personal experience with recent history is just the same.
Mar 28 at 3:38amWeb