US school system report

[ilovefh]

I once asked my 8th graders what state they lived in and some said "Kissimmee" so you can only imagine what they knew about Canada.

 

[BlovesC]

I had to laugh, because when I was in fifth grade and we had our big world history project that every American kid does some variation of, my good friend stopped talking to me for a week when I refused to trade my assignment (Australia) for hers (Canada). And I'm pretty sure her presentation was my only exposure to Canada in school!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Yes, very sad. Unfortunately, we teach VERY little geography in our country. Our children, in general, know very little about what happens beyond the US. Which is pathetic.

While I do agree with you in principle, we also need to remember that our country is made up of 50 individual states, most of which are by themselves the size of an entire European nation.

And yeah, Canada's even bigger, but they don't have to spend nearly as much time memorizing province capitols

 

[mommasita]

While I do agree with you in principle, we also need to remember that our country is made up of 50 individual states, most of which are by themselves the size of an entire European nation.

And yeah, Canada's even bigger, but they don't have to spend nearly as much time memorizing province capitols

So when "should" world history be introduced in your opinion?

 

[NewRVLady]

I once asked my 8th graders what state they lived in and some said "Kissimmee" so you can only imagine what they knew about Canada.

But doesn't that reflect on you, as their teacher?

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, actually I was.

Awww, don't be rough on yourself, maybe you're just trying to hard?

 

[hereyago]

But doesn't that reflect on you, as their teacher?

Why would it reflect the poster? The kid is 1 grade from.high.school and doesnt know what state they live in?My first bet would be the parents.

 

[ilovefh]

But doesn't that reflect on you, as their teacher?

As their math teacher? No, it doesn't reflect on me at all!

 

[hereyago]

No offense, but if it isnt a part of "teaching the test" curriculum, it isnt going to be taught to the kids, other than they are neighbors to the North
and part of North America.

Heck, some of our history can be inaccurate and glossed over

 

[Gumbo4x4]

So when "should" world history be introduced in your opinion?

Not my point at all. Of course by 8th grade, one should know something about World History & Geography.

But, oftentimes these conversations turn to apples & oranges comparisons. I can get in my car and drive hundreds of miles in any direction without ever leaving my home country. The same coudn't be said for someone from say Latvia.

So, History & Geography are just "different" in North America than say Europe. That's all

 

[mommasita]

Not my point at all. Of course by 8th grade, one should know something about World History & Geography.

But, oftentimes these conversations turn to apples & oranges comparisons. I can get in my car and drive hundreds of miles in any direction without ever leaving my home country. The same coudn't be said for someone from say Latvia.

So, History & Geography are just "different" in North America than say Europe. That's all

No, as you said, so can Canadians, which is what we were discussing.. North America.

I found it hard to believe, still do, that World History isn't introduced..

 

[cjbcam]

When we were in Arizona we were sitting with some Americans in the hot tub they asked us where we lived, we said straight north of North Dakota. They thought North Dakota was part of Canada. That being said I would bet a lot of Canadians don't know a lot about Canada either.

 

[hereyago]

When we were in Arizona we were sitting with some Americans in the hot tub they asked us where we lived, we said straight north of North Dakota. They thought North Dakota was part of Canada. That being said I would bet a lot of Canadians don't know a lot about Canada either.

This reminds me of when I was going to visit some friends in Hawai'i. My co worker, an. fellow American asked me if I needed a passport,she was serious. Um, no.

 

[mommasita]

When we were in Arizona we were sitting with some Americans in the hot tub they asked us where we lived, we said straight north of North Dakota. They thought North Dakota was part of Canada. That being said I would bet a lot of Canadians don't know a lot about Canada either.

Mabye so, but here you don't pass HS if you don't pass Canadian History.. And it is a VERY difficult class..... You can fail Math, English, take those later not, but not Canadian History.

 

[robinb]

No, as you said, so can Canadians, which is what we were discussing.. North America.

I found it hard to believe, still do, that World History isn't introduced..

Kids in here Madison, WI study "social studies" in 8th grade. It's more of a current events class. They study a bit of geography, but the more in depth study of history is left for High School. FWIW when traveling internationally ... including Canada ... people don't have any idea where Wisconsin is. I say Wisconsin is "Just north of Chicago!" and it works like a charm.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Mabye so, but here you don't pass HS if you don't pass Canadian History.. And it is a VERY difficult class..... You can fail Math, English, take those later not, but not Canadian History.

How on earth is Canadian History a very difficult class?

 

[mommasita]

How on earth is Canadian History a very difficult class?

It is very difficult here in French

 

[SirDuff]

How on earth is Canadian History a very difficult class?

Admittedly it was many, many years ago, but I don't remember Canadian History being anything special (in terms of difficulty or requirement). I needed one credit (in my school we usually took it in grade 9), but I also needed one credit of geography, five credits of english, etc. None were more important than the other (other than, I'd say english, since you needed five credits so failing would mean summer school or an extra year - I was in Ontario when there were still five years of High School).

 

[CdnCarrie]

It is very difficult here in French

My kids took French Immersion social studies and never had an issue. But then history isn't everyone's cup of tea I guess. To me it was always the easiest subject.

 

[mommasita]

Admittedly it was many, many years ago, but I don't remember Canadian History being anything special (in terms of difficulty or requirement). I needed one credit (in my school we usually took it in grade 9), but I also needed one credit of geography, five credits of english, etc. None were more important than the other (other than, I'd say english, since you needed five credits so failing would mean summer school or an extra year - I was in Ontario when there were still five years of High School).

I took it in Grade 8, and we do have 5 years of HS, and it was also many years ago.. I took it in 100% French, and went to 100% English Elementary school, and it was very difficult.. I was no slouch student either, it is very different two years later in a different language..