The thing I always find interesting about these statistics is that they always seem wildly exaggerated. And it makes me wonder if instead of being ignorant, the kids are just apathetic liars.
I remember having to take surveys and tests that didn’t matter in school. And to illustrate my point, here is an exchange from my favorite comic strip:

Calvin: “I’m filling out a survey for ‘Chewing’ magazine.”
“See, they asked how much money I spend on gum each week, so I wrote, ‘$500.’ For my age, I put ‘43,’ and when they asked what my favorite flavor is, I wrote ‘garlic/curry’.”
Hobbes: “This magazine should have some amusing ads soon.”
Calvin: “I love messing with data.”
[credit: /Bill Watterson]

Remeber what “immediately” locating a map would imply — having a photographic memory of the states.

I don’t think ignorance and liers are the only two option. Schools punish students (typically through social pressure) for making mistakes. After several years of public education, students finally learn that their job is to shut up — not ask questions — and only hold a position if they are absolutely sure it is correct and that they will not be punished for holding it.

Students who act smart get punished. Students who act dumb get rewarded. Students are smart, so they act dumb.