Average American?

[Henrique]

Though I know this might sound a bit like prejudice (and I'm sorry for it) but there's sth that really puzzles me: everyone I know that has been to the U.S. to study (and they are quite a few) has said that the average american knows far less about general matters (particularly in geography and history) than the average non-american. That doesn't makes sense to me: U.S. has the best universities, the best teachers, the greatest income avaliable to invest in education and so on...
The real question is: how much of this is idiot anti-americanist propaganda and how much is true? And if it is true in some way, why the heck is it so??

Thanks,
Henrique

 

[MummyMan]

Hmmm, what are these "general matters" you speak of? And how do you compare the knowledge of the "average american" to the that of an un-american? I'm wondering where you get your evaluation of the average so-and-so from.

 

[yaroslav]

I bet that with "general matters" he refers to world history, world geography. Yes, this prejudice exists also in my country: the avereage american doesn't know too much about Europe... I've some reasons for that:

1) First, we, outside USA, know a lot about USA because she is the world power rigth now, and, mainly, because her culture is anywhere

2) USA has a history of isolationism that probably has influenced her culture: plus, we are not so important for USA as USA is for us

How much do you know about Canada? Or about Australia?

 

[Immortal]

I know lots about canada.

 

[yaroslav]

I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of people that know a lot about Canada, but I bet the average Spaniard (and maybe European) knows little about Canada...

 

[MummyMan]

History and geography? I live is the US and we learn in-depth european history in our 10th year of schooling when you're about 15-16 years old. I can't remember off the top of my head the subjects of history and geography i learned, but i'd say i have a good knowledge of geography and history. I still would like a better criteria for a "good" understanding of world history and world geography.

 

[Henrique]

And how do you compare the knowledge of the "average american" to the that of an un-american? I'm wondering where you get your evaluation of the average so-and-so from.

Well, in fact i didn't. The people who've been there told me so. What I think they meant is like "They are far dumber than we thought". After all, a brazillian that manages to go to study in the U.S. is definetly not an average brazillian, so to speak.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

The division is due to interest, or lack thereof. Many Americans really, honestly, couldn't care less about what goes on abroad, and therefore make little effort to study it. Then, you have those are do have some interest in looking beyond the States, or North America.

Basically, from what I can tell, it's not a matter of 'bering an idiot', it's a matter of simply not caring, and totally not being involved. This type of issue just doesn't efffect the average American in his/her daily life very much at all.

I.e., we're spoiled rotten brats over here, that have everything we want/need, life is good, and why should we care about anything else? A terrorist attack? Umm, umm, go kick somebody's ass. Yeah. That'll show 'em. Now, anyway, back to what we were doing..... let the gov't handle this overseas stuff.


-There, I hope I've captured the attitude of the 'average American' there. I think that's pretty close.

 

[Perfection]

Simple! The average American High-School history course is crap! There is very little foriegn information given. The reason is most Americans really don't need to know this. I myself know very little about European history, not because I'm dumb or I hate it, it's because I don't actively research it, because that Is practically the only way to learn anything about it.

 

[cgannon64]

Explanation: Our public school system, on the whole, is horrible. Look at one of the economic centers of the nation, New York, as an example. I think the average kid failed last year, or something ridiculous like that.

 

[MummyMan]

True, the schools are bad. In all seriousness i've learned more about world history and world geography through Civ2 and Civ3 than probably my entire 10 years of schooling thus far. I have learned a lot about European History this year though.

 

[Quokka]

Originally posted by PantheraTigris2
The division is due to interest, or lack thereof. Many Americans really, honestly, couldn't care less about what goes on abroad, and therefore make little effort to study it. Then, you have those are do have some interest in looking beyond the States, or North America.

Basically, from what I can tell, it's not a matter of 'bering an idiot', it's a matter of simply not caring, and totally not being involved. This type of issue just doesn't efffect the average American in his/her daily life very much at all.

I.e., we're spoiled rotten brats over here, that have everything we want/need, life is good, and why should we care about anything else? A terrorist attack? Umm, umm, go kick somebody's ass. Yeah. That'll show 'em. Now, anyway, back to what we were doing..... let the gov't handle this overseas stuff.


-There, I hope I've captured the attitude of the 'average American' there. I think that's pretty close.

After having lived there I would say this is an almost spot on assessment.

 

[Mojotronica]

Ironically the average American is a lesbian from Akron Ohio named Jeanette Mathison. She has a son and works for a car dealership.

 

[Quokka]

I have learned a lot about European History this year though

This to me is part of the problem. The US often talks about Europe as if it were one country. There are, I think, 28 countries in Europe as a whole. One year of study is barely adequate for one country, let alone the whole of Europe.

 

[Quokka]

Ironically the average American is a lesbian from Akron Ohio named Jeanette Mathison. She has a son and works for a car dealership.

The Onion?

 

[PantheraTigris2]

I'd just like to add, that in my entire highschool education, NOTHING... I say again, NOTHING was taught about World War II.

Nothing at all. We "didn't get that far".

Forunately, I've been an amature WWII historian for years, going back as far as junior highschool. When I was in highschool, I was looking forward to discussing WWII, and I even volunteered to bring in some of my WWII stuff to show the class. But, we had just finished WWI, and the teacher said, nah, finals are next week - we don't have the time to cover it.

So, if it were not for my own, personal persuit of knowledge about WWII, I would know virtually NOTHING about it.

And no kidding, when I was in the 9th grade (already a WWII expert ), I was talking about it with one of the seniors (12th grade), and I couldn't BELIEVE it, but he actually thought we fought the "British" - in World War II.

Yeah, he was a football player, but still. He had no clue. And my point is, there are many like him.

 

[addiv]

Originally posted by Quokka


This to me is part of the problem. The US often talks about Europe as if it were one country. There are, I think, 28 countries in Europe as a whole. One year of study is barely adequate for one country, let alone the whole of Europe.

There are about 50 countries in Europe , which I bet the average American, and even the educated American couldn't name all. (Though I must admit I couldn't mention all the American states out of my head)

 

[Mojotronica]

Originally posted by Quokka


The Onion?

Onion-esque. It's a Mojoriginal, unless I swiped it sub-concosciously.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

I can name all the European countries, capitals, most of the rivers, mountain ranges, just about all the cities worth mentioning, bodies of water, and draw accurate borders between all the countries, if given a blank map of Europe.

But then again, I am not the "average American", by ANY means...

 

[Perfection]

Originally posted by addiv
There are about 50 countries in Europe , which I bet the average American, and even the educated American couldn't name all. (Though I must admit I couldn't mention all the American states out of my head)

The Perfection the Educated American names European countries expiriment. Okay lets see what I can come up with

1. UK
2. Ireland
3. Iceland
4. Germany
5. Poland
6. Spain
7. Portugal
8. France
9. Sweden
10. Norway
11. Finland
12. Russia
13. Ukraine
14. Monaco
15. Vatican City
16. Albania
17. Croatia
18. Estonia
19. Lithuania
20. Andorra
21. San Marino
22. Netherlands
23. Luxemburg
24. Lichtenstien
25. Denmark
26. Belgium
27. Chech Republic
28. Slovakia
29. Swizerland
30. Italy
31. Greece
Okay, that's about all I can think off so 31