[originaltext]Business leaders and educators were at the National Geographic So

Business leaders and educators were at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C.recently to unveil a new public education campaign designed to give kids the tools to become better world citizens. Janice Bell is Research Director for the Roper public polling organization, which is part of the campaign. "You know, our futures are much more tightly tied together including that of the United States and the world.And we are really finding that young people are unprepared for this increasingly global future." The survey included 510’people between the ages of 18 and 24 from all over the US. They were asked basic questions about world geography and current events using maps and other materials. The results were startling to some. Ms. Bell adds, "Yes, young Americans had a hard time finding certain countries on a map or a region of the world.But what was more important, this (demonstrates) a lack of a functional knowledge."