Mr. World Leads a Global Tour : Geography: A former teacher is on a mission to increase children’s knowledge of the Earth.

With a huge map of the Earth unfurled behind him, Mr. World told the youngsters at Glendale’s Grandview Library on Tuesday that he was about to take them on an international tour, beginning in Southern California.

He pointed to Africa, then Greenland, and asked if he was starting in the right place. When the children protested loudly, he quickly moved to the correct region, complimenting the youngsters on their knowledge of geography.

But moments later, some of the children were stumped. “We’re three hours from the border of another country,” Mr. World had asked. “What country is that?”

“Arizona,” shouted one child.

“South America,” offered another.

Though he finally coaxed out the right answer--Mexico--Mr. World had shed light on a key concern among educators: Too many students--and adults--are seriously deficient in their knowledge of geography.

Though his title makes him sound like an international bodybuilding champ, Mr. World is, in fact, William Fritzmeier, a tall, thin, bearded educator who is touring the nation to inspire greater interest in geography among schoolchildren.

Fritzmeier wears a handmade silk cape bearing an embroidered globe. On his colorful map, he guides youngsters through the continents, discussing native animals, natural resources, political conflicts and environmental concerns.

“I thought it was fascinating,” said Arlen Mirzaian, 10, of Glendale. “He told me some things I hadn’t learned before, like about the tropical rain forests.”

As about 30 children listened, Fritzmeier gently mentioned the Persian Gulf War while guiding the youngsters through the Middle East.

“I wish we had had a larger turnout because it’s the kind of thing that’s extremely important in light of what’s going on now,” said Carolyn Flemming children’s services coordinator for the Glendale Public Library. “It’s a natural way of getting them interested in geography.”

National surveys indicate that more attention to geography lessons is needed. One recent poll indicated that one in seven Americans cannot find the United States on an unmarked map.

Fritzmeier said one reason is that schools have given a higher priority to other subjects, such as math, language and science. The geography instruction that is provided is often quickly forgotten, he said.

In an interview after the program, the Providence, R.I., resident said: “I swear to you, my daughter, who is in the sixth grade, has been given a list for the past three years of state capitals to memorize, with no map. That kind of approach to teaching is harmful because it makes it dull.”

Fritzmeier, a former elementary school teacher and professional storyteller, is engaged in his second Mr. World tour, underwritten by a major bank card company.

He attempts to make his geography lessons more interesting by weaving in bits of history and science. At the Glendale library he described the centuries-old Great Wall of China, saying it can be seen by astronauts during space missions. He contrasted it with the Berlin Wall, which was torn down after just a few decades.

The program won appreciative reviews from some parents.

“I liked it for a couple of reasons,” said Karen Raskin-Young, who brought her 6-year-old son, Jeremy, from North Hollywood to hear Mr. World. “First of all, you don’t find a program on geography very often outside the schools. You find them on art and music and other subjects like that.

“And this is the sort of program that comes to life. He didn’t just name the countries. He told interesting facts and odd stories about them, something that would make them memorable.”