Now that I mentioned it, I need to get a quick soapbox off of my chest.

SOAPBOX ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hated any form of reality shows (with the exception of some game shows) since I was a child. I especially could not stand the Miss WHATEVER Beauty Pageants and it completely boggles my mind that there still is that intense competition in beauty pageants in the 21st Century.

Now…back to the question at hand:

It seems to me that it would be very easy to create a curriculum that focused on maps that would be both fun and educational for kids of all ages. There are lots of guessing educational games that can be played with maps. There are lots of opportunities to learn by using them.

As a young child, my parents bought me this game called “Game of the States”. I absolutely loved it and played it for years. It helped me learn where each of the states are located and I also learned a little about each states major exports.

When we went to major amusement parks, I would have my parents buy the large souvenir maps and I would tack it up in my bedroom when we got home. I LOVED MAPS!!!

That led me to dig out my family atlas. I would sit and look over maps of all the continents.

Today, I periodically dig our Road Atlas and trace my finger along the highways, cities and states. This has created a passion for me to see every state and all 58 counties in California (we have been to all of them, except Inyo County, in southeastern CA).

In my preschool classrooms, I bring in old maps donated to us and let the kids paint over them. I have also sent a map of Disneyland to my classroom with a postcard for each child and had the teachers there help point out each of the pictures on the Disneyland map.

I’m telling you all, this is an easy statistic to get rid of. And it could be a LOT of fun.

Take care.

I grew up in America and went through the public school system. As an adult, I moved to Europe and married my husband who is European. There is a difference in education from here to there. A BIG difference.

I did great in school. In highschool I got all A’s and B’s. My husband did mediocre in school. Still, he can beat the pants off of me anyday in math, history and geography.

My children are starting to go to school here and it blows my mind what they require the children to know. I remember starting 1st grade in America…if you knew your letters, numbers, colors and could spell your name then you were golden.

Here they do all these strange tests that I didn’t even know existed! And if the child doesn’t pass then they have to go back to preschool. There is no fighting it. It is very strict.

They also have longer school hours and different schools depending on your grades.

I guess the European school system works though as proven by I.Q. statistics. Did you ever watch 20/20’s “Stupid in America”? You can watch it online at Youtube. They tested one of the best schools in America and then they tested a school in Belgium. The kids in America didn’t even come close to the kids in Belgium. Not even close!

You also have to consider that almost all European children are bilingual. They learn a 2nd language starting from Kindergarten and up…usually the “universal” language English. How many American children are bilingual? There is small percentage but, not much (I am not talking about foreigners living in America either). I wasn’t offered a 2nd language until highschool and it was not required.

Now the American school system has the “No child left behind” rule. That is going to drag a lot of the smarter children down. The teacher has to focus so much of their attention on the children who aren’t prospering, while basically ignoring the ones who have true potential.

Also parents are getting too tied up with their “rights” as an American citizen. If a school tries to make it so that they have enrichment programs for the more gifted children then all the parents whine about why their child wasn’t picked. The program never works and then the children suffer.

I had a cousin who went to school in Boston, MA. He graduated (he was 18 years old) and he couldn’t even fluently read. Is that normal? That a kid can go through his whole school years without reading?

American school systems really need to toughen up. Perhaps they need to take some hints from the rest of the world how the education system should work.

Remember, I am American so, I am not America bashing. I am just telling it how it is. Or how I think it is.

Anyways, I hoped my opinion helped you some. Good luck!

I’m a school teacher and I know I’m going to make sure none of the % comes from my classroom :o)

Doesn’t suprise me at all.

He he he.