Do Students Need a Background in the Arts and Humanities?

Recently, a friend who teaches undergraduates and I had a conversation on how little background our students had in the traditional arts and humanities. The question arises: so what if they don’t have this background? John Simon, president of Lehigh University offers an answer:

Students need an education that prepares them for success in professional and civic life. The world needs citizens who possess the creativity, civic learning, communication skills, and critical thinking that the arts and humanities provide, so they can take on the task of solving an increasingly complex set of challenges.

This quote comes from a brief article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (here—but you may need a subscription). You can find the article in hard copy in the May 27, 2016 issue.

I add that the arts and humanities teach us about the human condition, essential knowledge to succeed professionally and in our personal lives.

(ljs)