FarmI wrote:

LOL. As a result of wandering round the Net, I've become convinced that
Geography is either ineffectively taught, or not taught at all in USian
schools.

I vote for taught but completely forgotten after the test by the
majority of students. Consider the TV show "Are you smarter than a
fifth grader?" to see how much most forget.

How much school stuff should be retained? Vastly more than is by most.
How much effort should be spent at imporoving the median retention? I
have no idea. I remember enough of the material that I am amazed at
what folks don't know.