In the midst of the heated battles swirling around American humanities education, Peter Stearns offers a reconsideration not of
what we teach but of why and how we teach it. A humanities program, says Stearns, should teach students not just memorized facts but analytical skills that are vital for a critically informed citizenry. He urges the use of innovative research as the basis of such a curriculum, and he offers specific suggestions on translating curriculum goals into courses that can be taught alongside or instead of the more conventional staples.
Circa l’autore
Peter N. Stearns is Heinz Professor of History and dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. His many books include European Society in Upheaval and Jealousy: The Evolution of an Emotion in American History.