The importance of geographic literacy
On Thursday, we will join educators from around the country in Washington, D.C., with one mission: urging Congress to pass the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act (TGIF) to ensure that America’s children are equipped to work and live in an increasingly globalized world.
Many Americans do not realize that despite geography being named a “core academic subject” in federal legislation, it is the only core subject to never have received dedicated federal funding.
Geography education is much more than kids knowing that the capital of Djibouti is Djibouti. There is an enormous demand in both the public and private sectors for individuals with the ability to interpret and analyze geographic information. There are 70,000 new jobs in geospatial technology each year, but we are not training Americans to fill them. That is a massive blow to our global competitiveness.
TGIF would establish grant programs to expand geographic literacy among American students and improve K-12 teacher preparation.
Steve Jennings, Colorado Springs
Rebecca Theobald, Colorado Springs
The writers are members of the Colorado Geographic Alliance and professors at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Learn more at www.SpeakUpForGeography.org.
This letter was published in the Feb. 27 edition.