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Wheel of Fortune geography fail

Where in the world is David Dailey when he's in Venice? The Wheel of Fortune contestant who won a fabulous $60,000 trip to the fabled floating city didn't know, reported WSB TV on Feb. 19. David Dailey thought maybe Venice was in Paris. Or France. That's was his response when Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajack asked if Dailey knew to which country his winning trip would take him. The hilarious Wheel of Fortune geography fail went viral as these things do (it's Friday, don't judge.) It's a good thing David Dailey was on Wheel of Fortune, not Jeopardy!

It was a perfect storm geography fail, too. David Dailey won Wheel of Fortune solving the puzzle "gondola ride through Venice" but responded with a city (Paris) when asked which country the city of Venice was in. Then he amended his geography fail to a country, but the wrong one. His wife's response (and the look on her face) was the coup de grace she asked, "So do we still get the trip?" (Practical lady). Yes, they will still get their trip to Venice, Italy, geography fail notwithstanding.

And now begins the carping from old timers WED Ultrasound Transducer about how "they don't teach geography in schools anymore!" As if they needed more ammunition for that argument! So laugh if you will, but don't blame poor David Dailey for his geography fail. He's is a victim as much as he is geography challenged a victim of educational system shifts and changing times. Back in the day (good old, some claim), schools emphasized rote memorization in geography and across the curriculum. Students were drilled on states and capitols, countries, maps and data. And the result better knowledge of the physical world, but an arguably narrower world view.

The current emphasis in American schools is to make geography part of the larger subject of social studies. Social studies covers cross curricular subjects of history, culture studies, geography, language arts, foreign language and earth science. The goal in social studies is big picture not tiny thumbnail. While social studies lesson plans are more interdisciplinary, they do sometimes miss specific geography lessons. And the result is kids don't know world locations as they should. But they do, hopefully, have a better global perspective with social studies. David Dailey can always grab a Baedecker and brush up on his European countries, but you can't put cultural experience on a map.

Grand Rapids News Examiner

Marilisa's friendly face can be found on article's across the web. From 27 years a happy wife, 26 years a mommying geek to four lovely children and 25 years teaching and homeschooling, Mar writes and blogs about education and parenting. Her articles explore esson plans, kids relationships, health, books, crafts, DIY, special education, minimalist living, food and faith.

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