One has to wonder about the probable causes of this ignorance. Is it because young Americans lack global perspective, or because we just don’t care? Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology Hunter Gehlbach at Harvard University attributes the shortage of global knowledge to the high expectations of schools in other academic areas. With the instilment of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, school systems in America are more focused on transforming the country into a test nation where subjects such as math, reading and science are heavily taught. Students have been too focused on memorizing material, rather than approaching education with introspective ideas.

                There is also the matter concerning a lack of foreign language skills. Only a small amount of elementary schools in the United States offer extensive language courses. A survey conducted in 2010 by the Center for Applied Linguistics showed a decline in foreign language study throughout 5,000 American schools. One third of the schools reported that the No Child Left Behind Act had drawn resources from the foreign language departments, and schools once offering French, German, and Russian now only teach Spanish. Because second languages are introduced more in high school, students see learning another language as a course requirement rather than a way to connect with the outside world.

To combat this problem, foreign languages should be introduced at a younger age, specifically during elementary years. An article from USA Today tells the story of a young American girl attending Petite Ambassadors Language School in Jacksonville named Azure Warrenfeltz. Not only is she fluent in Japanese and Spanish, but she can also understand French, German, Arabic and Italian and is currently learning Mandarin Chinese. She is four years old. Numerous studies have shown that young children like Azure can absorb foreign languages much better than teens. If these languages are introduced at a younger age, children will not only be skillfully fluent by the time they reach young adulthood, but they will have the confidence and motivation to communicate with global citizens.

Finally, as sad as it may seem, there is a tremendous disinterest on behalf of young American students in terms of global learning.  Social studies is often rated as a student’s least favorite subject in elementary and high school, right behind science. Yes, students can memorize the Constitution and the capital of Nebraska, but will they really remember that information in five years? Efforts to introduce international courses have been met with resistance over the past years in favor of other core curriculum subjects, spurring a lack of focus and interest amongst students. It is even seen in university campuses, as the University System of Georgia had to close its Office of International Education in 2009 due to declining state revenues.

Knowing geography is not only something that helps students win Quizbowl or a round of Jeopardy—it is so much more important than that (with no offense to you, Jeopardy).  Schools have the capacity to educate their students on global issues. It is necessary for young Americans to recognize that so many aspects of their lives relate to others living across the world—similarities are much greater than differences setting them apart.

There is evidently a shortage of teaching students to become competent and effective global citizens. By learning about other countries and where they are located, students will recognize their responsibilities towards one another and learn more about basic human rights. Students should not only know where Saudi Arabia is located on a map, but also dig much deeper to see the problems apparent in countries around the globe. Learning several languages and reading about the modern world instead of reading People can help young men and women interact with others and prove that Americans in fact do know where Texas is.

After leaving high school, many students choose to travel abroad during their four years of college education. Universities throughout the United States have taken incentive to expand these programs in the past decade, allowing students to stay in another country for months at a time. Many high school students from the United States will be jetting off to other countries at least once in the next five years. Isn’t it important to know about the places they are about to go to? The youth of America should be encouraged to travel and absorb as much as they can at such a young age, and many more students should participate in the programs abroad.  

                With all of the international upheaval in the past couple of months such as the protest movement in Egypt, it is important for young Americans to stop asking whether China is a city or a country and become educated on a global scale. Issues arising in Tunisia are not the only issues in the world, and it is time that Americans learn their geography and what is happening outside their homes. The sad truth is that a majority of people did not know there was such a place as Tunisia until recent events highlighted the country’s internal struggle. As Chilean- American author Isabel Allende says, “Americans don’t understand anything about anywhere in the world. Unless they are at war with that place, and then they understand a little bit.” With knowledge about the globe, individuals can go forth in improving foreign relations and changing the world for the better.

Entertainment Industry

George Clooney

Mel Gibson

Mariah Carey

Walt Disney

Conan O’Brien

Christina Aguilera

Political Figures

John F. Kennedy

Joseph Biden

Ronald Reagan

Business

Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company)