The Problem: Our Classroom Maps Are Wrong

For generations, K–12 students have been taught using traditional world map projections—such as the Mercator—that make trade-offs in the size, shape, distance, or direction of Earth’s continents. These maps often make regions such as Africa and South America appear smaller while making other regions such as Europe and Russia appear larger, inadvertently contributing to geographic and cultural misconceptions.

Part 1: Equal Earth Projection

Created in 2018 by cartographers Bojan Šavrič, Tom Patterson, and Bernhard Jenny, the Equal Earth projection is a modern, mathematically derived equal-area depiction of our globe. It preserves the correct relative area of all landmasses while maintaining a visually balanced representation of the world.

By adopting the Equal Earth projection in global curricula, K–12 students will benefit from a more accurate understanding of Earth’s relative land areas and global geography. Furthermore, the Equal Earth projection is freely available for public use, allowing adoption without restrictive licensing fees for school boards.

Part 2: Map Centering

Fixing the size of the continents is only the first step; we must also improve perspective. Traditional classroom world maps have historically placed Europe near the centre, reflecting mapping conventions that we believe promote Eurocentrism and an outdated “edge of the map” mentality for many other regions.

Because the Equal Earth projection can be mathematically generated with its central meridian placed on any line of longitude, we propose replacing static classroom wall maps with three standardized regional variants. With regional map centering, students around the world would use the version that best centres their part of the globe. For example:

🌍 Atlantic Variant: Centres Europe, West Asia, and Africa with the Americas to the west and East Asia and Oceania to the east.

🌎 Americas Variant: Centres the Americas (North and South America), with East Asia and Oceania to the west and Europe and Africa to the east.

🌏 Pacific Variant: Centres East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with Europe and Africa to the west and the Americas to the east.

Aligned with Earth’s three major longitudinal perspectives (Atlantic, Americas, and Pacific), only the central meridian changes to better reflect each student’s region while preserving the same geography, scale, and data. These three regional perspectives are not arbitrary. They correspond broadly to the world’s principal geographic, economic, and population centres: the Atlantic (Europe and Africa), the Americas, and the Pacific (East Asia and Oceania).

When students look at the world map displayed in their classroom, their home region should be near the centre of the map they use every day. This three-map model provides better geographic context for students while offering a more equitable framework for global education.

Standardizing three Equal Earth map variants provides a practical balance between educational equity and global implementation. Rather than producing hundreds of country-specific maps, three standardized versions would simplify production, reduce costs, streamline curriculum development, and make adoption easier for publishers, ministries of education, school systems, and teachers worldwide. Educational authorities could still develop additional localized variants where appropriate.

The Call to Action

We call on ministries of education, curriculum authorities, school boards, educational publishers, cartographers, and national governments to:

1. Adopt the Equal Earth projection as the standard world map projection for K–12 geographic education worldwide.
2. Produce and distribute three standardized Equal Earth map variants so classrooms can display a map accurately centred on their respective region.

Sign this petition to demand greater accuracy, clarity, and equity in geographic education. Let’s give the next generation a more accurate and equitable view of the world.