We're all sadly aware of how woefully ignorant Americans are about geography, history and world affairs. Studies are published frequently which cite the alarming statistics. Well, it turns out that our brothers and sisters across the pond are not necessarily any more clever. British teens were quizzed and a fifth of them believed that, among other things, Winston Churchill was a fictional character! Also, over half believed that Sherlock Holmes was real. At least we don't have to feel so lonely over here.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
At least we have an ally
We're all sadly aware of how woefully ignorant Americans are about geography, history and world affairs. Studies are published frequently which cite the alarming statistics. Well, it turns out that our brothers and sisters across the pond are not necessarily any more clever. British teens were quizzed and a fifth of them believed that, among other things, Winston Churchill was a fictional character! Also, over half believed that Sherlock Holmes was real. At least we don't have to feel so lonely over here.
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2 comments:
Whenever I'm in England I am reminded quite viscerally that America, indeed, was an English colony. Culturally, I'd say we are kissing cousins. This has both positive and negative implications.
Having lived in England for a while now, this story didn't surprise me in the least, and I feel that it's not an inherent lack in the quality of British history eduction that's to blame, but the fact that history isn't a compulsory subject in British high schools (which serve children aged 11 to 16)--pupils are instead given a choice between history and "the classics". I get the impression this set of circumstances stems from a general feeling that forcing children to learn British history smacks of nationalism and is therefore to be avoided. For this same reason, other British-centric subjects such as the mechanics of parliamentary democracy are also absent from the curriculum, which in my opinion has very worrying implications for the general health of the nation. I've met a shocking number of otherwise well-educated Britons who don't have a proper grasp of such basics as the difference between an MP (member of parliament) and a local county councilor or who they're actually voting for in which election. And these people are allowed to vote while I'm not...
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