Slashgeo

Sworldwatch discuss and links to a ArcNews Spring 2007 article on history of geography and the state of geography education in the U.S. From the article: "Soon after World War II, however, geography was purged in the United States, and the impact continues today. From 1948 to 1988, the discipline was expunged at the University of Chicago, Columbia, Harvard, the University of Michigan, Northwestern, Stanford, Yale, and other esteemed American universities, oddly even during periods when universities were expanding faster than at any other time before or since. In truth, nobody knows why geography was targeted on such a broad scale." See also related stories below.

Direction Mags runs an article by Claudine Bianchi of MetaCarta about today's geography in the U.S. classrooms. From the article: "Only 13% of the Americans surveyed correctly identified Iraq on a map of Asia and the Middle East. Only about half of young Americans were able to locate landmasses such as Japan and India on a global map. And 20% of those surveyed could not find the Pacific Ocean. But set aside our less-than-satisfactory performance at a Geography Bee, and jump ahead to the terrain of public and private firms where geography has become one of the most powerful weapons in the arsenal. [...] Mistick went on to say, "While war teaches us much about geography, a solid knowledge of geography can provide the key to political success. On every rung of the political ladder there is no substitute for a thorough understanding of the geography of an election district or ward or city as our civic wars are fought."" Meanwhile, The Map Room links to a story about a third of Britain not able to read a map: "Over a third of motorists struggled to read a four-figure grid reference and a staggering 83 per cent failed to identify the “motorway” map symbol. … One in six (16 per cent) UK drivers no longer keep a map in their car [...]" See also related stories below.

If you're a gis person of any form you may have already been asked about or emailed a link of Miss South Carolina's response to the question in the title. This post is less informational than cautionary. When you're done listening and laughing at her answer, make sure you can come up with one of your own that's a little better :) Hear her answer here: http://www.youtube.com/v/lj3iNxZ8Dww