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Where in the world!?! Geography in the spotlight
Teachers in the Cameron County School District have made it that way by injecting some spirited competition into the learning process, working with the National Geographic Society. Just before Christmas, 10 students competed in the final round of a Geography Bee in the school auditorium. They were the survivors of a sevenround elimination proess that tested their knowledge of the planet. Serious competitors took advantage of an opportunity to finet une their skills by practicing on a National Geographic website. Beth Malizia first introduced "Geo Bee" to the local school district. The program has since been taken over by teacher Jen Olivett and students in the gifted program. "Teachers have been very supportive, very patient and very cooperative," Olivett said. Students also became enthusiastic, she added, both as competitors and as spectators during the final round.She likened the experience to a sporting event.
Finalists Matthew Fragale and Damian Barton, both of whom are football players, said the Geo Bee was more stressful than any gridiron experiences."It made me really nervous," said Barton "I was a lot more nervous than when I am playing football." Tension grew in the audience as the question-and-answer format winnowed the field from 10 students to just two. In the end, after a series of stalemates, C.J. Markum left the stage in victory, carrying a $25 restaurant gift certificate. Runner-up was Andrew Sestina. Markum earned the right to take a written geography test. If he scores among the top 100 in Pennsylvania, he will be invited to compete in statewide competition. Rounding out the field of finalists were Alison Dunkle, Alyssa Wycoff, Mathew Fragale, Damian Barton, Levi Moser, Max Stuart, Kyra Azzato and Marina Keiter.
No Geographer left behind The majority of U.S. high school students are unable to locate Peru or Denmark on a map. More alarmingly, when presented with a map of the Middle East, few can pinpoint the nation of Iraq. Dr. Al Forsyth, a geography professor at Weber State University, argues that geography education is being pushed aside in public schools' rush to raise standardized test scores in math and reading. "We're raising generations of young people who know little or nothing about the world outside of their own hometowns or, in many cases, their own living rooms," Dr. Forsyth argues. "The consequences when it comes to America's role as a global leader could be disastrous." He is a card-carrying member of the Association of American Geographers. AAG's primary focus these days is to educate members of Congress so that they'll include geography education when they reauthorize the No Child Left Behind law. "Geography is essential to a well-rounded education," according to AAG. Geographic understanding is critical to the informed exercise of each citizen's civic responsibility. Geography helps us understand the connections between people and places -- and with the natural environment. "Geography education is key to achieving international understanding and economic development, and also provides essential workforce skills needed to maintain U.S. competitiveness . . . Geography helps us to understand and enhance our own communities as American citizens and informs our understanding of the challenges facing the United States in an uncertain world." AAG is calling for citizens to lobby Congress in support of geography education. Further details are available online at aag.org. |
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