Problem:  One problem in American secondary education is the 
failure to teach students the interrelationships between fields of 
study.  Also problematic is the lack of relevance students see in 
their classes.

Proposed Solution:  The Humanitas program in the Los Angeles 
Unified School district was designed as an attempt to avoid these 
problems.  Students in the program study the same topic in a 
variety of classes in the humanities.  These classes are designed 
by the group of teachers who will teach them rather than by the 
district or state; the overall goal is to convey more of a context 
for the material than is traditionally taught.  The program 
involves selected students from a school; students are chosen 
through varying processes, with an effort taken to involve those 
who are in need of exposure to the humanities.  Teachers are 
selected for the program based on enthusiasm and on willingness to 
innovate.

Evaluation:  The program is considered successful.  Participating 
students are more likely to stay in school and make gains in areas 
such as essay writing.  While the program is not significantly 
more expensive than the mainstream education, reduction of state 
funding has led to some budgetary problems.

Contact:  Barbara Golding, Director, Humanitas, Senior High 
Schools Division, Los Angeles Unified School District, 644 W. 17th 
St, Los Angeles, CA  90015.  Phone:  213-742-7525 or 213-622-5237.

Citation:  "Innovations 1992."  Governing Magazine, Volume 6, 
October 1992, pp. 40-41.

Keywords:  secondary education, humanities

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