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Howard U is taking out its classics dept and the discussion on TV mentioned that all kinds of humanities are being cancelled, women's studies, African American studies et al.
That the focus is getting more and more on what gets me a job. Not to get a PhD and wait on tables.
It is sad but on the other hand we have this rising emphasis on STEM, pushing girls in STEM workshops. And grads coming out of engineering or comp sci do get jobs.
But with the shrinking humanities studies, there will be less opportunities for those that choose that path.
I wish that DD's school had more classics earlier. They do introduce latin in 8th grade, but I think there should have be more. Classics should be a requirement in high school.
I'm surprised that the TV said that the various cultural studies are also being cancelled/disbanded. I thought those were quite popular.
Unfortunately, much of what passes for the humanities today is actually activism. The difference between a truly humanistic attitude toward knowledge and activism is that a real humanist is searching for truth whereas an activist is convinced that they already know what truth is.
Went looking for details, nothing found yet with a web search. Not finding this on the Howard U website, either. The Howard Newsroom webpage does not mention a change in focus or cuts to humanities, no press release, no recent media coverage, no statement by the Office of University Communications: https://newsroom.howard.edu/
Therefore I'm asking you Wren, do you have a link to a source? For example, the TV discussion you saw?
Though it should be noted, this is not technically about getting rid of classics at Howard, the department is being dissolved and the classes will be offered through other departments, as I understand it. Which is something being discussed in many academic classics departments, not just Howard. But the issue is distinctly different from Universities and colleges getting rid of humanities departments and classes (also not new, but perhaps accelerating)- as in the state of Wisconsin university system.
A pity. I know humanities graduates tend to have a lot of soft skills which can be in demand. They can also be good jacks of all trades. A humanities education may allow people to be more content in life and happy with their situation. They are valued for who they are rather than what they produce.
Thanks, cricket3. Unfortunately, I was unable to access the article at the link you provided but used that link to search the WayBack Machine, internet archive. Found the article there and could read it. Thanks again.
I saw the discussion on Morning Joe. They had Eddie Glaude, Head of Princeton's African American studies making the statement about humanities being scrapped, not just the classics at Howard U.
After reading the article you linked, I skimmed the website of the Classical Studies organization. I saw an article on integrating transgender studies with the classics. This causes me to question: why not integrate gifted studies with the classics?!
It would be beneficial to affirm, validate, support, and protect invisible, overlooked gifted persons, for example, by including the study of gifted populations in Humanities, alongside other populations currently studied. Such efforts might increase cultural tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion of diverse, divergent, creative, out-of-the-box thinkers and thereby reduce or eliminate societal problems such as: 1) Misdiagnoses, alienation (SENG YouTube video) 2) Suicide, alienation - https://www.sengifted.org/post/seng-s-25th-anniversary-conference-reflections-on-seng-s-history 3) Drugs, incarceration, alienation - https://www.sengifted.org/post/at-risk-gifted
Beyond those thoughts on Humanities in general, there is concern for changing the focus of college/university offerings away from "liberal arts" and toward job training... this old post comes to mind, which links several discussion threads: http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....ing_out_of_CTY_and_decre.html#Post244668
Bottom Line: Is Howard U, a top HBCU, following the best course of action for its students?
A pity. I know humanities graduates tend to have a lot of soft skills which can be in demand. They can also be good jacks of all trades. A humanities education may allow people to be more content in life and happy with their situation. They are valued for who they are rather than what they produce.
Agreed.
A debate has been ongoing for decades: the value of liberal arts education (sometimes called classical education, or the education of free people) -vs- career-oriented education (sometimes called vocational training, or the task-oriented training traditionally given to peasants).
