Okay, the Academic Decathlon announced their topic for the next year, and I have to say, I’m really irritated by it. It’s...Africa. That’s it.
While I’m really happy that kids are going to get a chance to cover something which usually isn’t in school, Africa is the second largest continent in the world, with 54 countries, thousands of languages and indigenous cultures and so much more. Each country has its own rich history and culture. The fact that instead of choosing one country to showcase (as they have in the past: India, China, and Russia in the past decade or so) they elected to make an entire continent it’s broad category and jam it into one instead of choosing to pick a country next year for its geographic category is upsetting at best. Granted, they might acknowledge this within the packets and execute it well, but until I see that, I’m still going to be a little ticked about it.
I’ve competed in Academic Decathlon all four years of my high school career and this is the first time I’m glad to say I’m graduating and leaving it behind me.
