A problem of Geography in the United States

Tweet

I have children in my home here in the USA and i am concerned over what is being taught in schools these days. Many schools are not teaching kids the basics when it comes to world geography and how the world works. Based on questions on the likes of Quora and other like websites and information that kids are taught and even adults have the understanding of I am concerned for the lack of world knowledge that Americans have. Many and A very high percentage of them think that a conteniant and a country are one and the same thing. For example, I have had someone ask me where I was from and that ok because I'm not American but when i say i am from New Zealand they ask what state is that from. As if it's bad enough they didn't know that New Zealand was a totally different country they think it's part of the USA. Before coming here to the USA to live with my now wife I would often get asked what country and then had to explain that New Zealand is a country of its own NOT part of Australia or any other country. There is NO bridge you can drive to Australia from like the UK to France or crossing a lake, The distance between New Zealand and Australia is about the same as the distance between Continental USA to the Philippines is a long way. There is a sea called the Tasman Sea that separates the two countries and Australia is a country that makes up a large part of a continent called Australasia or Oceania, not Australia. As of 1992 New Zealand is officially not even part of that continent it is part of its own continent called New Zealandia of which 97 percent of it is underwater. Before New Zealandia sunk it was the 2nd largest continent only beaten out by Asia in its geographical size. So remember Europe is not the same as the European Union and Asia is more than just the Chinese and Japanese many other countries make up the continent. Africa is more than just South Africa it consists of more than 30 other countries with their laws, rules, and governments. So the next time says they are from Africa don't assume they are from South Africa Or if they say they are from Europe don't assume they are from the United Kingdom or worse just because they say they are from the UK, dont assume they are from England. The United Kingdom or UK consists of 4 different countries that are governed by a central government in London the capital of the UK Those countries are England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Island all answerable to the central government of the United Kingdom in London Much like the USA which has state governments that operate independently however must follow the laws set by the central or the Federal government. Central or Federal government set the minimum standards but state governments can exceed and often do that of the Federal Government. a good example of this is the Federal Minimum wage sets the least any person can be paid legally no matter where they live in the USA, however, the Minimum wage in some states have set those minimum levels at a much higher rate. For example, the federal Minimum wage is $7.25 per hour Other parts have their state minimum wage at $10 per hour or more.