This paper presents a view of the acknowledged lack of geographic knowledge exhibited by U.S. students. This view is grounded in the definition of geography that is developed through five themes: location, place, relationship within places, movement, and regions. According to this view, only a very small, usually trivial, part of geography currently is taught in U.S. elementary schools. Often that part is submerged in the questionable integration of geography into the subject of social studies. Geography needs to be taught as a separate subject. The function and use of the field needs to be emphasized over the data and trivial information that for years has distorted the public image of geography. A 27-item bibliography is included. (DB)