Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Sad State of My Elementary Education

Ok, seriously. I obviously got RIPPED OFF in elementary school! First I can’t spell, and now I find out I’m practically the only person in America who never learned the Nifty Fifty State song. Blaine, by the way, swears he doesn’t remember singing anything *before* the states, but does remember the “North, South, East, West, Oklahoma is the state we love the best” or whatever that part is at the end. Fine, whatever.

But I got gypped. I never won any cool coffeehouse bets, or passed a college geography test with flying colors, OR won a beer in a bar with this knowledge. The only time *I* ever got free beer was on Penny-Longneck night, if I found spare change in the parking lot. Thank goodness you kind people shared the Nifty Fifty YouTube link with me so I can at least learn it now. (Although you know I won’t, because the precious few brain cells I have left must be saved for high-impact learning like the new version of Photoshop and figuring out who got eliminated on Dancing With The Stars.)

It does make me wonder why my elementary school never taught us this song. It’s genius, I tell you, pure genius. I do remember learning the Mickey Mouse theme song in music class …. How is *that* important? It also makes me wonder if they’re teaching it now, or if I need to push to get it included on the curriculum. After all, Blaine and I worked our living situation pretty hard to get our kids in this same school district, and they’ll be starting there next month. Have I doomed them to a Nifty-Fifty-free life? Oh, the shame and horror if I have.

Well, I’m off to practice. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas …. Something, something …. La-la-la- ….. some c states, and Delaware … then maybe Florida ….. God, I suck.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Guess what? I never learned that song, and neither of my girls have learned it either (both of whom when to school right here in the same county as yours...). We were robbed! LOL

Anonymous said...

Here is another party trick/useless skill: can you say the alphabet backwards fast? Z Y X W U... My dad used to drive me crazy with this one.

Danielle

Anonymous said...

I never knew their was a state song until yesterday. I just have a freakish memory. Genetic. My sister does too. What's really scary is I can tell you every President the U.S. has ever had. GEEKY! I just was bored one day, and thought it might be fun to have this completely useless information in my brain.

Jan Ross said...

OK, being the obsessive librarian that I am, I had to find that song and I did at: http://www.teridanielsbooks.com/FeetAcross.htm

But I see others have also listed youtube versions of it. Anyway. I think we should all learn it now. It's never too late.

But, like you, I might need my brain for other important information. Like finding the caramels in the Whitman's Samplers.

Anonymous said...

Um, Danielle, you missed the V... Z Y X W V U T .... just thought you may want to know. :o)

Pam D said...

When I started working at preschool, I stepped in for the teacher of the 4 year olds, who had a very, very preemie (23 weeks..and now doing great at 3 1/2!). We were about 3 weeks away from the end of the year, and the kids were working on their end of year program. Darned if that teacher hadn't taught them the 50 states song, and darned if those little 4 and 5 year olds couldn't sing it! So, start 'em out early...

Anonymous said...

Ha ha...Danielle, yes I know the alphabet backwards thanks to a really old Wee Sing video, with identical twin boy nerds wearing shorts and bow ties at a birthday party who sang the ABC song backwards. My now-17-year-old-dd LOVED that video and we watched it over and over and over. it's kind of pathetic that 12 years later I can remember the words...

Anonymous said...

OK...so here is a little "game" I sometimes play to brush up on my state skills. While I am VERY quick with the spouting off of United States in alphabetical order...I admit that my geographical knowledge is...not so good? That east coast kills me every time. Why do they all have to be so small?!

So give this a try. If you pass it will tell you you've passed the 3rd grade. :)

http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

Abbie
DSM, IA

Unknown said...

The Mickey Mouse Club theme song? I can see why it was so important to move back to that school district. You are a hoot.

Anonymous said...

I think it would be a great sobriety test, don't you?

Hennifer said...

I never learned that song or anything like it. We did learn all the capitals when I was in the 5th grade.

I have no access to YouTube at the moment and will probably forget to look when I do so I guess I'll be in the dark forever