According to the introductions of the second cycle of high school programs, the most common finality of the teaching of geography is giving to pupils keys to understand today's actual world. An analysis of some pictures (graphics, cuttings, satellite images, photos) from 24 textbooks published from 1981 to 1996, shows that this ambition is not reached. The textbooks comply with common representations of pupils but are in opposition with official programs. Geography at the high school level does not educate to the complexity of the world.