How Dumb Are We?

[GalileoSmith]

Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA

ROFL......I agree......

Here's some "real" Americans in action......

Back in the day, when I was in high school, specifically, I was a noted idiot. I grew up some 40 years ago in a decent suburb, and went to a decent high school. But I may have graduated last in my class of 450 or so. I could tell you for certain but it isn't know exactly how many folks were in my graduating class. But I was back there somewhere. Anyway, the video was entertaining, but those shown were not typical Americans, of course. If they were typical Americans, then the video wouldn't be entertaining. It's kind of like those Jackass movies. Again, not typical behavior. If it were, there'd be no reason to go to the movie. All you'd have to do is go to the local vacant lot and watch guys do wacko stuff live and for free.

Having said all of that, it's great to watch such videos and see hard evidence that there are people dumber than me. It's pretty much the same reason I watch the long-running TV show Cops. An unintended "feel good" show.

[miamiteacher]

Originally Posted by roysoldboy

"For more than two centuries, Americans have gotten away with not knowing much about the world around them. But times have changed—and they’ve changed in ways that make civic ignorance a big problem going forward. While isolationism is fine in an isolated society, we can no longer afford to mind our own business."

"If you look at the link be sure to take the test and see how you do on it. I did it and got all 20 questions they have here right. Actually it was all too simple but in looking at how people scored on it one has a tendency to get a bit sick at the stupidity that does actually run rampant in the US."

I say that the biggest problem is what our schools are teaching these days. Or is it not teaching?

How Ignorant Are Americans? - Newsweek

Try the full length quiz here:

Citizenship Quiz — History.com Interactive Games, Maps and Timelines

Also, as a teacher, the phrase "You can lead a horse to water..." really has meaning to me. Some kids can't even pass a 5 word multiple-choice vocabulary quiz after a week of practice (these are middle school students), and all subjects are being pushed to work on reading (especially social studies) so the kids can pass the standardized test.

Poor test scores for these types of tests aren't surprising, you think politicians wants the public to be educated in this way? No, math,reading and science are what is talked about. History/Civics haven't been part of the educated American discussion for quite some time.

[Randomstudent]

I got all of them. They were ridiculously easy. It is pretty unfortunate that so many people missed them.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

Here's a bonus question. Who was the first President of the United States?

Hehehe.....

John Adams.

On the day of the inauguration, President-elect Washington was still in route from Mount Vernon, Virgina. While John Adams had a short distance to travel from Boston, Massachusetts, to the capital in New York City, New York. As a result, John Adams was sworn in as Vice President of the United States three hours before George Washington was sworn in as President of the United States. Under the newly ratified Supreme Law of the Land, John Adams was technically the first President of the United States for three hours.