Warns that the worst danger in emphasizing a body of knowledge is that it encourages the superficial form of knowledge currently popular in the game "Trivial Pursuit." Analyzes the game's questions covered in the category on literature. Lists recommendations for humanities professors trying to prepare for the future. (SED)

Suggests that the most serious problem facing higher education institutions today is disciplinary discrimination because faculty benefits and salaries are not always decided on tenure and accomplishment but on market demands in high-demand fields of education. Humanities faculty are less likely to receive comparable salaries, equipment, and…

Describes the University of South Carolina's (Columbia) Contemporary European Studies program, which drew on current course offerings and existing financial resources to provide study about post-French Revolution European languages, cultures, politics, history, geography, and economics. Options exist at many other institutions to create broadly…

Considers some documentary evidence for the view that the U.S. is on the educational and cultural decline and contends that the principal symptoms of weakness have been with us for decades. Lays the responsibility for many of the problems in the present crisis in humanities education on the humanities faculty. (SED)

Discusses the status of foreign language learning in connection with the humanities, and suggests a redefinition of the mission of the foreign language department in the research university. It is proposed that students be trained in language teaching skills in combination with branches of the humanities other than literature, without neglecting…

Describes two NEH sponsored workshops for the development of foreign language and literature programs which took place at the San Francisco and Houston MLA meetings in 1979 and 1980. Resulting efforts to strengthen foreign language programs as essential components of humanistic education are illustrated by reports from 1979 workshop participants.…

Decries decline in humanities enrollment figures forced by a society that demands accountability of its educational system. Sees reduction or removal of core-curriculum as opposed to majors' requirements as a development leading to an impoverishment of humanistic values. Advocates cooperative experimentation in curriculum design as a possible…

Optional interdisciplinary courses taught by foreign language teachers to college sophomores are described. The courses are English Word Power, Classical Mythology, Afro-French Literature in Translation, and two courses in law in literature. The emphasis was on integrating a humanities concept with a foreign language-foreign culture orientation.…

Discusses efforts by Agnes Scott College to develop a languages-across-the-curriculum program and other initiatives to link language study with other disciplines, and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the program after three years and plans for future expansion. (Contains eight references.) (MDM)