Inaccurate maps of the fifty states

[annettemcd]

(I had a post on this subject which was deleted.)

I just received a link to a website with some worksheets on the fifty states. Once again, the maps are inaccurate in that the forty-ninth and fiftieth states are just tacked onto the side with no indication of relative size or position. As a resident of Alaska, I resent that students are not being given accurate maps of the fifty states. Please refer to the official USGS map of the fifty states which does have Alaska and Hawaii in the right locations and at the right size.

Alaskans often have to deal with people who do not even have a basic understanding about Alaska. Some of the questions and statements that we often hear, especially when placing an order to be delivered to Alaska:
“Well, we do not ship to locations outside the US.”
“What kind of currency to you use in Alaska?”
“We only ship to the fifty states.” (We became the forty-ninth state fifty years ago.)
“We only ship to the continental US.” (Alaska is part of the continental US, though it is not part of the contiguous 48 states.)
“We only offer free shipping to the US, not to Alaska and Hawaii.”
“‘AK,’ that’s Arkansas, isn’t it?”

Because they have seen it so often on maps, some people think that Alaska is a small island southwest of California. (Though most islands do not have straight edges.) Many people do not understand the size of Alaska. (Do you know that if superimpose a map of Alaska over a map of the 48 contiguous states, Alaska would reach from coast to coast?) Alaska is ⅕ of the size of the continuous 48 states. In fact, Alaskans like to joke that Alaska should divide in half so that Texas would be the third largest state.

The use of inaccurate maps of the fifty states in the USA in the classroom is irresponsible and should be discontinued. Please use accurate maps such as the one available from the USGS. We need to educate students about the geography of all fifty states, not 48 and then those two other ones as an afterthought. It has been fifty years, long enough to have accurate maps of all fifty states, especially in classrooms.

[Unregistered]

Hmmmm......might I suggest using a world map? The problem with placing Alaska and Hawaii in their proper locations is that it makes it impossible to have a US map that shows the entire US while being "zoomed in" enough to show state lines, rivers, mountains, ect.

Honestly, as I was reading your post I thought you were blowing the issue out of proportion. There will always be stupid people who have bizzarre misconceptions about geography. This has far more to do with general intellectual ineptitude than it does with the US map.

Just as there are a few people who think all Alaskans live in igloos, there are actually some people who believe that Texas is a desert. Ignoramuses will always exist, there is no rational reason to become upset about it.

[annettemcd]

As I said, there is an official map from USGS that has Alaska and Hawaii in the right location and in the right size. It is worth seeing before you make statements about it. This is what USGS says about the map: "United States—Alaska and Hawaii in correct geographic position: A useful educational tool to show the geographic location of all 50 States. Features include international and State boundaries and names. State capitals and major cities, roads and railroads, rivers and lakes, and national parks and monuments." I am not saying that it is the only map which should be used, but in lessons about the fifty states, it should be present along with more detailed regional maps.

We do not need a world map to show the fifty states of the United States.

Misconceptions are voiced almost daily when an Alaskan is dealing with non-Alaskans. I agree that we can not rid ourselves of ignorant people, but we can use items in the classroom which are accurate and do not perpetuate misconceptions.

Young students who are learning the location of the fifty states need an accurate map from which to learn. We expect them to learn which states border which other states. Why shouldn't we expect them to learn that Alaska is not southwest of California as it appears on many maps and that it is more than twice the size of Texas?

How would you feel if your home state was omitted from maps of the US or reduced in size and relegated to the corner?