Death Quote by Suzy Hansen
““In school, we did not study world maps, because international geography, as a subject, had been long ago phased out of state curriculums. America was the world; there was no sense of America being one country on a planet of many countries. Even the Soviet Union seemed something more like the Death Star, flying overhead and ready to laser us to smithereens, than a country with people in it.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The War on Kids, 2018
The quote critiques how education omitted global geography, fostering a narrow, America‑centric worldview and demonizing other nations.
In simple terms: Education ignored world maps, making America seem like the only country.
Broaden curricula to include global perspectives.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- policy debates
- teacher training
- student awareness
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does limited geography education shape national identity?
- What benefits arise from teaching global interdependence?
May oversimplify complex histories and ignore domestic issues.