Harvard students don't know Canada's capital


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What's the capital of Canada? :huh:

Don't know? Don't worry, you're not alone. Students at Harvard University were asked the same question on camera by the Harvard Crimson, the Ivy League school's newspaper. Their answers ranged from "I don't know," "I have no idea" and "Oh my God, it's really bad I don't know" to "Alberta ? no, that's not right," "probably Vancouver or something," "is it Toronto?" and "I'm sorry Canada."

The correct answer is Ottawa, Canada's fourth largest city and center of government as selected by Queen Victoria in 1857.

Just don't ask Harvard kids to tell you that.

 

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So what? Jamming all that info on your head doesn't make you any smarter. We need "thinking people" to save the economy and the world, not people that spits out info without processing. Unless, of course you really like Geography and like to learn those things. 

 

 

No offenses to HUM, can't say the same to the article.

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What's the capital of Canada? :huh:

 

 

 I can understand why people wouldn't know that, what's more surprising is that supposedly intelligent people seem embarrassed that they don't know.

 

Likewise what's the capital of India or Portugal or Australia?

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So what? Jamming all that info on your head doesn't make you any smarter. We need "thinking people" to save the economy and the world, not people that spits out info without processing. Unless, of course you really like Geography and like to learn those things. 

 

 

No offenses to HUM, can't say the same to the article.

These were Harvard students, As a 'Prestige School' one would expect it to be relevant, as factual accuracy is important in law as well as many other factors.

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Likewise what's the capital of India or Portugal or Australia?

 

New Delhi, Lisbon, and Canberra :D - these are easy ones.

 

One of my entrance exams to the university was the economic geography. As part of the exam, this was just one task, I was given a map of Africa (it could've been any continent) with no signs on it what so ever; there were just borders and dots where capital were situated. The task was to fill in the names of the countries and their capitals.

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My geographical knowledge is alright, but America as a continent is still much of a mystery to me. I would have said Toronto for Canda's capital, and regarding Hum's comment about Massachusetts (which as a name I had to look at several times to make sure I was spelling it right) I would have said "isn't that a city?" until I read his answer and slapped myself for being stupid. :pinch:

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These were Harvard students, As a 'Prestige School' one would expect it to be relevant, as factual accuracy is important in law as well as many other factors.

Were these Law or Geography students though?

Do you think it would be fair if I walked up to an English Literature student and asked them to recite any sorting algorithm of their choice.

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Were these Law or Geography students though?

Do you think it would be fair if I walked up to an English Literature student and asked them to recite any sorting algorithm of their choice.

To answer the first part, I'd have to refer back to the point I tired to make about it being a 'Prestige School'

 

The Second part, probably not, but in reference to keeping the thread on topic, if you're fortunate enough to get into 'insert exclusive school name here' be it on merit via a scholarship, or a rich daddy the primary function of said school is to educate, now the capital of Canada may not be a lifechanging piece of information, but it is factually accurate.

And I hate with a passion a term a that has been used a lot over the internet. which is 'War, god's way to teach Americans Geography'

I happen to have a lot of online friends, from every reach of the internet <sorry appropriate term failed me> and having spoken to many who were from the usa, I have to say, they are well spoken and educated, (yes there is the complete opposite online too, but that is the world over, not just America, but that's the power of the internet, it gave the stupid a voice)

I could go on, but I run the risk of getting even further off topic than I had originally intended.

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This may not be life changing revelation and I don't even give a flying rats a** if NONE of those Harvard students knew the correct answer or not!

 

Partially exactly why college cost so much is forcing students to attend classes that have either absolutely nothing to do with what they are there for or very little. Try teaching them how to look that info up in a book (anyone remember those things) or even online. Maybe they'll actually learn to use that laptop, tablet, or smart phone for something other than Facebook or Twitter even!!

 

When I went to the community college here, they wanted me to take mega years of English when I was going for an accounting major. WTF does English have to do with accounting. Even wanted me to take 2 years of Phys Ed. Needless to say, didn't get that accounting degree! :(

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As someone who graduated college just 2.5 years ago, I can confidently say I didn't know the answer. Why? Because MAYBE at the age of like 10 we covered the provinces of Canada in a social studies class, but outside of that absolutely nothing about Canada is taught in school. Zero, zilch. Not saying that as a bad thing either, who cares what the capital of Canada is?

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As someone who graduated college just 2.5 years ago, I can confidently say I didn't know the answer. Why? Because MAYBE at the age of like 10 we covered the provinces of Canada in a social studies class, but outside of that absolutely nothing about Canada is taught in school. Zero, zilch. Not saying that as a bad thing either, who cares what the capital of Canada is?

See this to me suggests a basic lack of general knowledge, it's not a problem but it does add to the stigmatism I mentioned earlier, This is not a dig at you, for all I know your level of education far outstrips mine.

Will this information change anyone's life, no, and to some degree, can agree with your post, but in a world influenced by the information superhighway, I have noticed a certain amount of 'dumbing down' happening even here in the UK, some may not see it, but it is there.

 

Before I get off topic I just think Education is key, for all

Sorry if this post appears confusing or rambling.

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typical Americans, doesn't surprise me one bit :|

 

 

Hardly fair. People come from all over the world to attend American schools because they are some of the best in the world.

 

It's a little disturbing that people are one of the most prestigious schools in the world don't know the capital of their neighbouring country. If the question was "What is the capital Tanzania" you could see why a lot of people wouldn't know that.

 

 

It's Dodoma, by the way :p

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It's Dodoma, by the way :p

 

It's a shame we can't play the name the countries' capital game on the Internet ... because of the high potential for cheating :)

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It's a shame we can't play the name the countries' capital game on the Internet ... because of the high potential for cheating :)

 

Well, We could just use the honour system. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAHAHA! Just kidding.

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