The Humanities in Education

1523 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Inclusive education

The Humanities in Education

Education is the opportunity to learn and grow in your community, society, workplace, and even inside you. Education, quoted from Jon Spayde, a well-known interviewer and editor in his article titled Learning in the Key of Life, is about power: the power to know about the world around you and the people near and far from you. Education is culture, passed down from one group of people to another. We learn about these people through the humanities. Earl Shorris, a teacher for lower-class students quoted in the article Spayde wrote, said to his students on the first day of class, "You've been cheated. Rich people learn the humanities; you didn't. The humanities are a foundation for getting along in the world, for thinking, for learning to reflect on the world instead of just reacting to whatever force is turned against you" (60). What a powerful statement Shorris shared with his students. But why are the humanities a foundation? What foundation is Shorris talking about? And what constitutes the humanities? This foundation is the basic understanding of other cultures, and the ability to relate to many different types of people. This can be difficult to achieve, but education has the humanities to help. The humanities can be defined many different ways. The Readers Digest Dictionary defines the humanities as: the branches of learning (as philosophy, arts, or languages) that investigate human constructs and concerns as opposed to natural processes (as in physics or chemistry) and social relations (as in anthropology or economics) (652). This was the third definition of the word. The definition defines the humanities the best, as we know them today. But Spayde has another very interesting way to define t...

... middle of paper ...

...e people from all races and countries. Keeping an open mind while traveling through your educational journey will help you enjoy and love the lessons you learn. Just remember to learn to embrace other people and cultures, and love the subtle subjects that are offered in the humanities. They truly will open doors of ideas that you didnt think you had in you.

Works Cited

Mission Statements. The Presence of Others. Ed. Marilyn Moller. Boston:Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 51- 57.

The Readers Digest Encyclopedia Dictionary. Ed. Sidney L. Landau. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest Association, 1966. 652,1336.

Rose, Mike. Lives on the Boundary. The Presence of Others. Ed. Marilyn Moller. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 105-119.

Spayde, Jon. Learning in the Key of Life. The Presence of Others. Ed. Marilyn Moller. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 58 64.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Dehumanized By Mark Slouka

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    As I said before, math and science are important, but the humanities are just as important, if not more. “The humanities, done right, are the crucible within which our evolving notions of what it means to be fully human are put to the test; they teach us, incrementally, endlessly, not what to do but how to be” (Slouka). This quote taken from “Dehumanized” defines and truly puts Slouka’s beliefs into the perspective of what the humanities should teach students and how they should be taught, which I agree with fully. I believe that without the humanities, we, as humans, would all be the same and there would be no room to be different from one another. Whether it be by our culture, religion, or interests, not two people are alike. Individuals should not be bred into being something that they do not want to be or even like Slouka argues, students should not be a “capital investment” for the future of the economy. Students should be investing in themselves to express who they truly are, rather than being something that the economy expects them to

    Read More

  • Empress Wu and Buddhism: A Symbiotic Relationship

    2294 Words  | 5 Pages

    Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.

    Read More

  • The Value Of Education In The Humanities By Adam Frank

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Education in the humanities may bring a better outcome of understanding the process off everything that happens in our society. Students are able to learn more about the past cultures which is very beneficial for them. It does not only give them an idea of how the past was, but rather help’s them analyze what can be useful in their present. Students also have the capability of learning skills that will allow them to succeed in their future careers. All this learning comes from the aspect that humanities shows skills that students will

    Read More

  • The Response to the Spread of Buddhism in China Differed According to One's Social Position

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    The response to the spread of Buddhism in China differed according to one’s social position.

    Read More

  • Chicano Nationalism

    1637 Words  | 4 Pages

    Berube, Margery S., et all; The American Heritage Dictionary Second Edition; Houghton Mifflin Company; Boston, Mass, 1985

    Read More

  • Empty Canvas: An Outward Perspective on The Picture of Dorian Gray

    1991 Words  | 4 Pages

    The classic novel by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray inspires beauty, and romance. The main focus of the novel is aesthetics, a philosophical view detailing the nature of creation and appreciation of art and beauty. The tragedy of the young Dorian Gray after becoming misled by his companion, Lord Henry Wotton, is one that causes many to reform ideas on life and purpose. Lord Henry believes in hedonism, a thought stating that pleasure is the only true good; he declares, “The only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfilment of the senses” (Wilde). This outlook is tempting for many persons, including that of the title character, Dorian Gray. In contrast to Lord Henry is an artist named Basil Hallward, whom perceives Dorian to be his muse; serving as inspiration, and purpose. Basil has many moral traits including trust, compassion, and kindness. His infatuation with Dorian causes him to change his art and style, composing an exquisite painting of the young boy. Basil states, “the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life…his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style. I see things differently.” (Wilde). Dorian becomes so mesmerized by the beauty of the picture and the words of Lord Henry that he wishes for the picture to depict his sins and age, rather than his physical being. To the surprise of the young Dorian, his wish becomes fulfilled. This theme shares similarity to the Faust story, as the title character exchanges his soul for pleasures

    Read More

  • Buddhism's Expansion and Influence in Ancient China

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    The cause and responses of the spread of Buddhism in China is similar to and reflect that of Christianity’s spread throughout western Europe. The universality aspect of both of these religions makes it possible to draw the comparison between the two. Buddhism and Christianity shared a positive response concerning the recognition of its unifying effects to create a more orderly society. Regarding Buddhism, this is seen in document 5, and regarding Christianity, this is seen in the way it became the unifying force in the Roman

    Read More

  • The Impacts of Japanese Buddhism

    1817 Words  | 4 Pages

    The development and evolution of the different sects of Japanese Buddhism such as Zen Buddhism played an important role in the development of classical Japanese culture throughout the four major periods, which was shown in the way that the Nara period, the Heian era, the Kamakura period, and the Edo period were all shaped by the ascent and decline of different Buddhist sects. It is these transitions that make Japanese history a myriad, but fascinating web of interconnecting events that manages to confuse even the most veteran historians. At first, Buddhism was only a pastime of the elite class of landowners and daimyo that held no special significance to the common peoples. It was mainly another way for the central government to gain power and influence among the many local lords that it had to contend with on a regular basis. Although it is to be noted that most of these new converts to Buddhism did not abandon their earlier religions, but instead blended it together with several aspects of Shintoism, the original indigenous religion of Japan(“Japanese Buddhism”,1). This created several amalgamations of the two religions wherever and whenever they met(“Japanese Buddhism”,1). However, as Buddhism was introduced to the general population through the process of hierarchical diffusion, it quickly branched off and evolved from its original form as different sects that shaped contemporary Japanese culture (Kasahara, 302).

    Read More

  • Literary Motifs in Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

    1798 Words  | 4 Pages

    Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999.

    Read More

  • Going Into The Humanities Class

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    Going into this Humanities class, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know what the Humanities were and how it would impact my education at all. I had taken a number of history classes in high school and in college before and expected the Humanities to flow with my history classes in a sense. In my previous history class’s topics such as wars, The Great Depression, assassinations, the settling of different parts of the world, slavery, witch-hunts, and the use of animals were discussed. I thought that the Humanities would fall somewhere on the line with history. I wasn’t wrong with this assumption, but I wasn’t right either. The Humanities, I have learned, is so much more than the history that surrounds what people did, acted like, made as art, ate, and learned. The Humanities made all the different interactions between people clear. People to people, people to land, people to art, people to animals, and many other interactions that people come across. This class opened my mind to everything that art is and can be and to how important is it to learn from the past, grow for...

    Read More

  • The Sociology Analysis of Food and Food Ways

    1827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pearsall J (1999) The Concise Oxford Dictionary Tenth Edition page 286 by Oxford University Press in Oxford New York, America

    Read More

  • The Picture Of Dorian Gray Theme Essay

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde readers are presented with a vast depiction of the art of immorality in the face of ignorant innocence portrayed by the character Dorian Gray. In the beginning it seems to be a quaint novel on artistry and the paradoxical relationship between two lifelong friends by the name of Basil Hallward and Lord Henry. The plot takes a surprising twist when introduced to the real center of attention, the character of the seemingly innocent Dorian Gray. Upon this introduction Wilde then begins to tell the tale of what a life of secrecy and deception will lead to without the consciousness of a moral threshold and the inescapable burden of Dorians horrid accumulation of sins. The deception begins with a simple shout out to the heavens for the impossible to be granted. This then flourishes into unspeakable acts caused by an Egyptian statue, bringing misfortune to Dorian Gray by giving him exactly what he so desperately desires, thus teaching the world a lesson. Not everything we so strongly desire the world to provide is good for the soul.

    Read More

  • Are The Pervasive Characteristics Of Organisational Performance Management Essential For Ensuring Organisational Effectiveness?

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t management it’, [Dan vesset and Brian, M. 2009]. Performance management is concerned with the measurement of results and with studying progress to achieving objectives base on the results. Managing performance can tell you what you’re doing well in, and also reveal areas where you need to make adjustments. Measuring performance tells you how far you’ve gone achieving your ultimate

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Performance Evaluation

    896 Words  | 2 Pages

    Performance management is used for the basis of promotion, reduction in force purposes (talent management), gives transparency of what an organization is looking for, merit increases, and lastly it provides protection against lawsuits for unlawful termination by keeping written documentation. Performance evaluations are advantageous to both the organization and the employee. A leading advantage of performance evaluations is it gives the employee an opportunity to create and achieve smart goals. Although performance evaluations primary function is to measure whether an employee is a good fit or a bad fit for the organization, its function is so much a broader. Performance management is tool purposely used to motivate employees to examine themselves and determine if they have selected the profession that is best for them; consequently the feedback an employee receives from their superior supports them with increase their knowledge and

    Read More

  • How Cell Phones Effect Our Everyday Lives

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ling, Richard Seyler. The mobile connection the cell phone's impact on society. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann, 2004. Print.

    Read More

More about The Humanities in Education

Open Document