Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

While I love to think that I am smarter than the average 10 year old (especially since I have 18 years of life experience under my belt), I don't know all my state capitals (but I can read a map), I still have trouble with fractions (at least when it comes to algebra), and sometimes my third grader corrects my grammar (thank you country livin').

Yet unlike those my own age (and a few years younger) I can find Iraq on the map, I have the Preamble memorized (since 7th grade), I can name the three branches of government, and I can tell you what a bill takes to become a law.

This new "game show" only teaches us that we won't always use what we learn in school. Yes knowing the capitals of the states is a good idea, but when you're 35 do you need to know the capital of a state you don't live in? Not always; after all, we've got Google.

Although I may not always remember the exact definition of a pronoun, I can explain the concept of a fraction so a kid "gets it". Sure, my third grader may need to correct my grammar from time to time, but I only screw up because I had kids...ever heard of Deficient Noun Disease? It's where your counter becomes "that thingy" and your son becomes, "hey you". That's what you get for having kids and that's why I'm not smarter than a fifth grader...but I'd like to see a fifth grader figure out how to feed a family of 4 on $50 for two weeks. No? I didn't think so.

Will I watch it? You betcha...mostly out of morbid curiosity...partly because I want to see if my sons (ages eight and six) are smarter than a fifth grader. Yet you have to wonder...why do adults put themselves through this?