I read an article today that really did not surprise me. Did you know that Americans are basically illiterate when it comes to world geography? It’s true! Apparently, we are only interested in ourselves. A recent study showed that, despite the war, 63 percent of Americans aged 18-24 could not find Iraq on a map. Seventy percent didn’t know the whereabouts of Israel or Iran. And ninety percent failed to locate Afghanistan ... on a map of Asia!

It is a sad state of affairs when so many young people fail in this important area. That is why I so often recommend The Earth Dome to schools looking for ideas for school assembly programs. Sort of a giant Earth balloon, this program brings an inflatable planet Earth into the school for a day to teach our kids all about world geography in a way they cannot fail to like. The Earth balloon is twenty-two feet in diameter (that’s really big!) and is covered in high resolution photography of the planet’s surface. 

In the Midwest  Mobile Ed is fortunate to have Kathleen Day to bring  this great program to schools throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin and western Pennsylvania. Kathleen is a very talented, red headed lady of Irish descent, who hails from Springfield, Ohio right in the heart of America. And she has been winning the hearts and minds of midwestern kids and teachers alike for quite a few years now, bringing a greater understanding of the world we live in to schools all over the middle of the country. Other, equally fine presenters are employed to visit schools in other states, but where ever this program goes it is met with universal awe and delight. But, personally, I just like the fact that maybe ... just maybe ... the next time they take a survey on geographical ignorance in the United States we may do just a little better!

By the way, there are other companies that also offer this program ...but be advised ...they all charge a lot more than Mobile Ed!  

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN