Category: Geography In the News

Geography In the News, Main

Tell Us: Should students be paid to excel? (NYTimes.com)

An article in the New York Times last week described a pilot program in New York City public schools that provides monetary incentives to students for meritorious performance on standardized tests. Since the beginning of the school year, the district has distributed $500,000 to 5,237 students in 58 schools. Read the article at NYTimes.com and tell us what you think of the plan. According to … Continue reading Tell Us: Should students be paid to excel? (NYTimes.com)

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Geography In the News, Main

Last chance to participate in the GLOBE at Night Campaign!

Are you a stargazer? Act quickly! Unfortunately, a majority of Americans will never have the opportunity to see a sky unobstructed by ambient light and air pollution, illuminated by stars and not artificial fluorescents. This fact is the impetus behind the GLOBE at Night Campaign. “GLOBE at Night” is an engagement initiative to inspire people to experience the worlds beyond our own wonderful world by … Continue reading Last chance to participate in the GLOBE at Night Campaign!

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Geography In the News, Main

Current Events Compass: Kosovo declares independence

Sunday marked two weeks since Kosovo, former Serbian province and a United Nations protectorate for the last decade, declared unilateral independence to become the world’s 195th country on February 17. Following the initial fan-fare, the ensuing days have been fraught with tension and violence. While many nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, quickly accepted the Declaration, other dominant powers, like Russia, … Continue reading Current Events Compass: Kosovo declares independence

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Geography In the News, Main

Current Events Compass: Diplomacy through music? NY Philharmonic in North Korea

They aren’t state officials, tourists, or even professional athletes. No, the largest group of Americans to set foot on North Korean soil since the Korean War is the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYTimes.com). The orchestra played a repertoire of music including the North Korean and American National Anthems, classical pieces by Wagner and Dvorak, and “Arirang” a traditional folk song profoundly significant to both North and … Continue reading Current Events Compass: Diplomacy through music? NY Philharmonic in North Korea

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Geography In the News

Are Americans hostile to global knowledge? Part 2

Americans’ alleged hostility to global knowledge continues to attract media attention following last week’s NYTimes.com feature of Susan Jacoby’s book, The Age of American Unreason. In a recent spot on the Today Show, Matt Lauer interviewed the author. Jacoby offered insight into the phenomena of anti-intellectualism and geographic illiteracy, again citing the National Geographic-Roper Poll. An entertaining, yet disturbing, intro to the segment featured what … Continue reading Are Americans hostile to global knowledge? Part 2

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