This speech bemoans the deplorable state of geography education in the United States. American students' geographical knowledge is far inferior to that of European, Russian, Japanese, Canadian, or Australian students. This nation's young people literally do not know where they are, what other cultures are like, or how things fit together. A recent test of high school students by CBS affiliates disclosed that 25 percent of Dallas (Texas) seniors could not name the nation bordering the United States on the south. According to this paper, ignorance of geography can deter, frustrate, and defeat us in our local, state, national, and global endeavors. After describing several military, foreign policy, and business blunders, the paper urges administrators to help teachers rekindle students' interest by harnessing new technologies like videodiscs and microcomputers. Especially promoted are video and software resources produced by National Geographic Society. As people who supposedly nurture, motivate, and instruct teachers, administrators must assume greater leadership for improving geography education. The paper mentions 2 pilot programs and 15 geographic alliances sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The latter provides a forum for inservice teacher training, a healthy exchange of teaching ideas, and grass-roots involvement in curriculum revision. (MLH)