In March 1984, the first issue of "Esprit," a semi-annual humanities magazine for the 56 two-year colleges in New York State, was published. The magazine seeks to confront the apparent decline of student interest in the humanities, community doubts about the relevance of the humanities, and the seeming indifference to the special truths…

Presents an overview of the National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored Let's Talk about It Program. The intended audience is examined, the role of the scholar analyzed, and the special responsibilities of the discussion leader delineated. Results of the program are evaluated and suggestions for planning a program are offered. (six references)…

This report was written by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities and offers suggestions to the President of the United States on ways to strengthen the system of support for the arts and the humanities in the United States. The document describes a vital cultural life as essential to a functioning democracy. It also examines the…

The complexities involved in federal support of the humanities are examined, particularly regarding funding itself, dissemination of culture, and the public served by the humanities. The role of the National Endowment for the Humanities is discussed. (LBH)

These conference proceedings examine the future of humanities education in Texas and are part of the "Preparing for Texas in the 21st Century Project." The papers presented focused on such critical issues as state support for community sponsored cultural programming and the need for increased citizen understanding of other nations and…

Reports that the developmental process for national standards for K-12 instruction in the arts is nearing completion. Discusses issues and criticisms relevant to the national standards movement and to music education. (CFR)

It is argued that graduate students are bearing the costs of the oversupply of doctor recipients making them overworked, underemployed, indebted, anxious, and in crisis. The situation is particularly acute in the humanities, English, and comparative literature. Institutions and their faculty must reassert their commitment to graduate students,…

China's plans for higher education change include awarding scholarships for merit and charging tuition, increased local government responsibility for providing education, increased institutional autonomy in hiring, greater student curriculum choices, university training for industrial workers, and practical courses for humanities students. (MSE)

This proceedings report contains 6 of the 12 papers presented at a conference on the social role of the community college. First, information on the event, a conference program, an ERIC bibliography, and opening remarks by Richard M. Romano, conference coordinator, are presented. Next, the following papers are reproduced: (1) "Community…