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Why do American kids memorise state capitals in school? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by Aggravationstation to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I get why American states have capitals but why do American children have their ability to remember them all tested?

Seems like a pointless exercise to fill time and I can't find any explanations about this when Googling.

I can't imagine a scenario where that information could be useful. Even before the internet people could just look them up if they really needed to know them.

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[–] JoBo 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I'm British and we had to learn all the European capitals. Decades before the internet became part of daily life, mind (we had encyclopaedias instead).

Is it still useful? Yes, Id say so. A basic level of general knowledge still comes in handy unless you want to be consulting your phone all the time just to keep up with a conversation. Much like learning the times tables. Having the answer instantly to hand is a lot easier than opening up a calculator app.

[–] christophski 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm British and we never had to do that...

[–] JoBo 1 points 7 months ago

Seriously? That list is burned in my brain. I always have to start with it and then mentally update for subsequent political upheavals (much like how I remember family phone numbers: start with what they were in the 1970s and then add all the changes made since).