Reexamines the role of the humanities in higher education. Specifically focuses on Kirkwood Community College (Iowa), Richland College (Texas), and the Community College of Philadelphia. Explains that the goals of these three institutions are to (1) tighten requirements; (2)strengthen existing courses; and (3) create opportunities for faculty…

Observes that the humanities first came under attack immediately after their development in ancient Athens. Describes the fifth-century Sophists who developed an education designed for democracy. Urges support of the humanities today as a training in free citizenship, speech, and thought. Warns that technology cannot solve the problems facing…

Reports on a U.S. Department of Education study of the employment and salary status of 1989-90 bachelor's degree recipients. Finds that college graduates with humanities and history majors are not faring as well as their counterparts in other fields as they enter the labor force. Includes two figures and one table comparing humanities graduates…

Warns that higher education, particularly in the humanities, has become politicized. Argues that restrictions on the freedom of speech of professors and students in the name of feminist and antiracist ideologies are one-sided examples of "political correctness." Contends that the humanities are diminished by such politicalization and…

Describes the teacher-scholar program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Contends that the year-long program is an opportunity for professional self-renewal, providing teachers the opportunity to study topics and texts related to the subjects they teach. Includes a list of 24 teacher-scholars for 1994-95. (CFR)

Discusses the public humanities work of Herbert F. Janick, Jr., a professor of history at Western Connecticut State University. Discusses Janick's efforts to raise historical awareness among public audiences. Examines Janick's views on scholarship, public issues, education and teaching. (RW)

Discusses the implications for scholarly research of the military action taken by the Chinese government during the recent student protests. Points out practical problems as well as moral issues concerning the resumption of normal scholarly activities in China. Explains the possible effects of China becoming a more closed society. (KO)

Discusses a Pennsylvania State University seminar program designed to help medical professionals explore aspects of medical treatment through readings in the humanities. Argues that the program is broader in vision and scope that other medical ethics courses. Suggests that the effort can refresh and deepen doctors' work with patients. (SG)

Discusses the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 1985 summer seminar on Plato's political philosophy. States that the objective of the seminar was to give high school teachers an opportunity for intensive, uninterrupted study of the world's great literature so they could enrich their own knowledge of the subject and share what they gained…

Describes a new translation of Mao Zedong's speeches and writings that is being produced by Harvard University. Provides three selections from this series of translations as examples of the first-hand information which will be included in an effort to illustrate distinct phases of Mao's intellectual development. (KO)

Relates the efforts of completing two collections of the works and papers of Mark Twain. Describes the combined efforts of the University of Iowa and the University of California to publish both a scholarly edition and a reader's edition devoted to Twain. (KO)

Reports on presentations made at a symposium sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council. Papers dealt with teaching the French Revolution by presenting European history in new relationships with the rest of the world and by examining the Declaration of the Rights of Man as it related to the role of women. (KO)

Describes an undergraduate interdisciplinary program at Cornell University (New York) in the history and philosophy of science and technology. Serving as a meeting ground for the two cultures of science and the humanities, the concentration encourages students to examine the nature and place of science and technology in the modern world. (LS)

Contends that the study of religion will illuminate the ways in which people have tried to make moral, spiritual, and intellectual sense of the world. Discusses the problems faced by scholars and instructors in gaining a consensus for a definition of religious study, and in developing a set of methods for pursuing this discipline. (SLM)

Reports increases in the numbers of humanities doctorates awarded in the 1989-90 school year. Observes that the 3,820 degrees awarded marked the highest number of the decade. Notes that, although more doctorates were obtained in foreign language, history, and English, there were fewer for linguistics, philosophy, and art history. (SG)