What geographers say deserves as much attention as their written and graphic communications. American geography can be strengthened by substantive discourse that stresses places, regions, and global interconnections;by pro-moting physical geography; and by reviving geography's ecological tradition. Geographic information systems will be valuable tools for accomplishing those tasks and for reshaping the discipline to meet emerging needs. Geography's effectiveness will be augmented if we avoid self-defeating, unrealistic, and stultifying rhetoric;if we maintain a commitment to excellence in college and university teaching;and if we foster collegial discourse between those who profess and those who practice geography. We have an unprecedented opportunity to help improve geography in America's elementary and secondary schools.