Know Thyself: The Importance of Humanism in Education

Current and past reforms have attempted to address the challenges of the educational world. There are undoubtedly reasons for concern as illiteracy and high school dropout rates are still haunting figures in the United States (Institute of Education Sciences, 2010; National Assessment of Literacy, 2010). Thus, the need for improvement in the U.S. educational system is undeniable. However, education without true appreciation for the uniqueness of each and every individual is an empty endeavor. An important lesson can be learned from international experiences and the classical tradition of humanism.