ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author summarizes the best and worst of times, although from the perspective of writing in the opening weeks of the Donald Trump administration, only the worst is apparent. Geography as a discipline is increasingly valued and respected, particularly because of its two main perspectives, the spatial perspective and the environmental perspective. The spatial perspective drives geographers to document, analyze and explain, "The location, organization, and character of physical and human phenomena on the surface of Earth" and to recognize the importance of spatial variability across a range of scales. The environmental perspective leads geographers to explore relationships between humans and the environments in which they live. Due to the traditional separation of social and physical sciences, other disciplines tend to focus on either human or physical systems. While there are many opportunities for geography education in general and through implementation of the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework, there are significant challenges and growing concerns.
