Peter Berkowitz, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, where he co-chairs the task force on the virtues of a free society, wrote, “Why Liberal Education Matters,” which was published in the Wall Street Journal May 15, 2010.

Berkowitz agues that, while teaching science and math is very important, there is an “urgent need to reform liberal education,” noting, “Liberal education supposes that while individual rights are shared equally by all, the responsible exercise of those rights is an achievement that depends on cultivating the mind.” He takes to task the way in which the humanities are taught in colleges—citing “confused faculty and incoherent university curricula” as the culprits.

Berkowitz poses the question, “How can one think independently about what kind of life to live without acquiring familiarity with the ideas about happiness and misery, exaltation and despair, nobility and baseness that study of literature, philosophy and religion bring to life?” To answer that question, he posits, “For the sake of science and math, for the sake of international competitiveness, and even more for the sake of defending the worth and dignity of the individual, the reinvigoration of the humanities and the restoration of liberal education as education for freedom must become a priority.”

MHC would like to know what you think about the value of a liberal education and whether/how to reinstate humanities as an integral element of a college or university education.  Please reply here or on Facebook.

You can access the full article free if you are a Wall Street Journal subscriber at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182313286840550.html?mod=rss_Today’s_Most_Popular .

Marta Mills, a History Day judge and Facebook friend, shares her thoughts on being a judge and parent in this year’s Maryland History Day.

For the past four years, my family has looked forward to spring for its warmer temperatures, longer days, and History Day! We learned about History Day when friends from Ohio asked us to see their daughter perform an historical skit about the Erie Canal for the National History Day finals. We loved the energy of the event and, as parents of a history enthusiast, were very excited to see middle and high school students digging into history and receiving recognition for it. It was especially exciting to see parents supporting their children’s interests outside of sports.

Our son participated in the local and state contest three years ago outside of school, but he wanted to share the experience with others at his school. Since Towson High School was unfamiliar with History Day, he started a History Club so students take their research to the public via History Day. He and three other Towson High School students created a website about how the Space Race fueled scientific innovation. They worked on the site over winter and spring breaks and tried to meet after school several times a month. But, like most high school students these days, their schedules are crammed with AP courses, driver’s ed classes after school, and the college application deadlines. To their amazement, their project won the local contest.

Knowing we would be driving our son to the Maryland History Day contest at UMBC and waiting until the awards ceremony, my husband and I decided we’d like to volunteer our time to the Maryland Humanities Council and serve as judges. We are both history enthusiasts—he teaches in public schools, and I’m a writer who is a frequent volunteer in clubs and schools.

Judging students’ entries was eye-opening. Through our son, we’d witnessed first-hand the long hours of research, writing, occasional frustration, and design that went into creating a web site, but we had no idea what the judges saw. The depth and range of talent we saw was thrilling. And interviewing the students reminded us all over again how many curious, brilliant students are eager to share their knowledge.

Following the judging, we attended the awards ceremony which is spellbinding when your child’s category is almost the last one announced. And, once again, to his amazement, his group’s senior website won! So, for the first time, he’ll be attending National History Day (NHD) at the University of Maryland at College Park as a participant instead of a spectator.

As the NHD contest date nears, our son’s excitement builds even as he is forced to practice some serious time-juggling skills with AP exams, English essays, summer job applications, and finals all demanding his attention. From our perspective, History Day is time well-spent—after all, 10 years from now he probably won’t remember taking that Geometry test, while presenting his History Day project on the Space Race will be an indelible memory.

Marta Mills

At the 2010 Maryland History Day Awards ceremony Saturday, April 24, elected officials, school system administrators, and Maryland Humanities Council representatives heaped praise upon the 84 students and 17 teachers who took home awards and medals. Medalists will represent Maryland at the National History Day contest in June at College Park, MD.

Competition was very stiff; large numbers of excellent projects were submitted for judging in all five divisions. The 2010 theme: Innovation in History: Impact And Change, spurred students to think about and research inventions—radio, railroad, telephone; people—Descartes, John Muir, Mary Sherman Morgan; advances in medical technology—vaccines, organ transplants, prostheses; and how innovative theories such as the concept of zero, the assembly line and sign language impacted our world. During interviews students often admit to starting a project because it was a class assignment, but then recount becoming so enthralled by what s/he learned that reluctant participation turned into ardent enthusiasm. This deep engagement in learning is why Maryland History Day has been termed “the best history enrichment project in the state.”

Contest judges are always amazed by the creativity and hard work of the students. One commented, “Our future is good hands; these kids are so smart!” MHC agrees!

See a list of all the winners at www.mdhc.org/files/176_History%20Day%20Winners%202010.pdf.