Geography no Longer Groundbreaking, but Necessary

Oxford University is highly esteemed around the world as a pillar of intellectual thought. Surprisingly enough, a recent article in the school's student newspaper humorously exposed the student body's general lack of geography knowledge. U.S. students also tend to be geographically challenged. Is this a problem, and what should we do about it?


One of the reasons even the brightest students may not be skilled in geography is that in today's world, the study of geography is merely a process of memorization. Memorization is an important intellectual pursuit, but it does not necessarily indicate high intellectual abilities.

Geography Helps Make World Citizens

Although knowing the capital of Australia may not prove that you're going to be a Rhodes Scholar, it is important to know the world around us. We are essentially citizens of the world, and the more we know about where we are situated in it, the better we can relate to our neighbors.

Geography is a basic subject taught throughout a child's pre-college years. It seems apparent that most high schools need to do a better job teaching geography to students. If you think you could be a good geography teacher, then the world probably needs you.

Earn an Online Degree in Geography Education

To teach geography, you'll need a college degree and probably a master's degree in education. If you've already been to college, but don't have your teaching degree, you can probably earn it online. Online degrees are very popular among working professionals because they offer a lot of academic flexibility. If you get your online degree in teaching with a focus on geography, you can then start applying for geography teaching jobs.

With your dedication, your geography knowledge could help put the subject back on the map for important academic disciplines.

Sources

• Geographically Challenged

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. Kirk received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, and has worked as a management consultant.