Those 1/5 are a combination of the blind, r****ded, have Alzheimer's, and kids too young to even know what a map is. Seriously, if you're of a reasonable age and can't locate your own country on a map then you're either about as smart as a rock or have had teacher that never showed you because they're just as dumb. Agreed, it's a stupid question. If somebody asked me that question I'd probably look at them weirdly as if to say "Really. you've got to be F'in kidding me!"
Judge #5: "Recent polls have show 1/5th of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?" "I believe that this troubling statistic is evidence of our lacking educational standards and systems as compared to other developed countries. We must dedicate more time and money into our schools so that children can be better educated - they are our future." Simple and to the point, she should have taken the question and used it as a avenue to talk about education or children instead of some incoherent rant about Iraq and South Africa. I think nerves did play a part but she also probably isn't to intelligent either.
1 in 5 Americans are not able to locate the US on a world map because the state of public education in America is dreadful. Many schools, especially in the inner cities, have become like war zones, with students and teachers more concerned with not getting killed than with learning basic skills like reading, math, and geography. Teaching has become a career that inspired ridicule instead of inspiring students. Schools are underfunded both in terms of teacher salaries and up to date books and equipment. Convoluted systems of school assessment have lead to teaching to useless tests instead of grounding students in a foundation of the basic skills that will prepare them for college, or even just life in the adult world. Something along those lines would sound much more coherent than randomly naming countries like South America and Iraq and how the US should help them and that is why Americans can't read a map.
I bet the Teen Miss America pageant has a GPA requirement (there's probably a scholarship award), so she's probably an honor student (A's and/or B's at a public school in the South). Just like all those football players who never fail any classes between August and December. Standards and priorities in public schools in "US America."
Not a direct comment on her answer, but didn't every single Social Studies and History class you had growing up have World Map in it, hanging off a wall?
1) I thought her answer was brilliant. Seems like nobody realizes she gave the perfect answer to the question, only that putting the answer in context with the question is left to the listener. I'd say she represented those 20 % well. 2) I'd hit it (as soon as it would be legal)...
wow. you guys are brutal. I know I would have froze up on that question too. My first thought would be to call complete BS on that statistic.
i wanted to create a thread on this yesterday. i wrote the title of the topic down. i wrote some words down, and then i hit the back button. two minutes later, i click on new topic. i do the same thing, and then i hit the back button. i do this a few more times for the next 10 to 15 minutes. I didn't want to come off looking like a pedophile. yeah, that girl is dumb. it's a good thing she is cute.
She was obviously just extremely nervous and got flustered. There is no reason to assume the girl is an idiot.
