'Death' of the Humanities?

[Fatal Dawn]

On the chopping block: History, literature, civics and the arts

A recent study by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences sounded the alarm that vital subjects such as history, literature, language, civics and the arts are in trouble.
According to the report, the percentage of students majoring in the humanities has dropped in half, falling from 14 in 1966 to 7 in 2012. In 2010, only 45% of high school students were able to demonstrate a basic understanding of U.S. history.

Government funding for this kind of research, compared with the sciences, has also fallen.
The study points out that the federal share of funding for research in law and humanities was the only area of research that was smaller in 2011 than in 2005. In recent years, the Republican-controlled Congress has repeatedly targeted funding for political science research.

The commission argues this kind of decision has hurt our nation's economy. Of the nation's business leaders interviewed in the report, 51% said they believed that a liberal arts education was "very important."

Full article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/24/opinion/zelizer-humanities-in-trouble/index.html?hpt=po_r1

Are the humanities are dying off in today's education system? Is this a good or bad thing for the economy?

 

[DrLeftover]

But they do teach all about how to save a rain forest and why Conservatives hate polar bears.

 

[Evil Eye]

Only 51%?

To be honest, I didn't really care for those subjects. Literature especially seemed like a load of bull. However, that's not to say they aren't important.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

I agree to a certain extent that the humanities are dying off. I don't think they are becoming less important, but just less popular. Look up lists of the worst college majors and you will continually find the arts and humanities - from philosophy and history to theater and literature. I saw on Forbes the other day that the unemployment rate for Liberal Arts majors was around 9% (which is higher than the national average). The median earning is around 30k - not very hopeful just coming out of college.

Only 51%?

Are you also surprised that reportedly only 7% of college students in 2012 have majored in the humanities?

 

[Evil Eye]

Are you also surprised that reportedly only 7% of college students in 2012 have majored in the humanities?

No I'm surprised they'd mention that 51% when saying the humanities are important. It's just not very convincing.

 

[DrLeftover]

Know anybody with an "Art History" or "English Literature" degree who's working at Walmart?

I know two of them.

Well, neither is working there, one would like to, the other is a waitress.