1 in 4 students can pass geography exam

Brian Tynes:

Do you know who is responsible for collecting fuel wood and water for families in East Africa?

Can you identify South America by looking at a diagram of its elevation changes in profile?

Those are sample questions found on the National Assessment of Educational Progress geography assessment test for 12th-grade students this year.

If you don't know the answers, you're not alone. Only 25 percent of American students passed the test.

It's a far cry from most people's perception of geography skills, such as identifying a river or mountain range on a map. It's one of the main reasons the subject doesn't get the same attention as others, such as math and English.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 4, 2011 1:51 AM
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