Last month, the chairman of the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities, along with officials from the Rockefeller Foundation, announced plans to provide support for the development of privately financed programs in six urban school districts. The aim of these programs is to promote the teaching of humanities in schools. These programs, inspired by the Philadelphia Alliance for Teaching Humanities in the Schools (PATHS), will be established in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and St. Paul.
Andrew Heiskell, chairman of the President’s Committee and one of the architects of PATHS, highlighted the impact that the program has had on the curriculum within the Philadelphia school system and set a standard for other school systems across the country.
The University of Pennsylvania hosted a three-day conference, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, in order to introduce officials from the six districts to the project.
Steven D. Lavine, assistant director for arts and humanities at the Rockefeller Foundation, stated that the foundation will provide financial contributions ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 per district for a period of three years. However, Lavine made it clear that the foundation’s commitment is rooted in recognizing the importance of arts and humanities in children’s education. The focus is not only on supporting teachers, but also on working with school systems to achieve success.
The PATHS program in Philadelphia, which was established in 1984 by a committee comprising of local corporations, universities, and foundations, prioritizes working with teachers. This nonprofit corporation provides opportunities for public-school teachers to collaborate with professors and professionals from universities, museums, and cultural institutions through summer training sessions, monthly colloquia, and after-school workshops. They have also awarded mini-grants totaling $165,000 to over 100 teachers over the past two years. These grants have allowed teachers to implement creative projects, such as bringing poets into schools or engaging in writing projects.
The PATHS program has seen significant success, with participation from faculty members in approximately half of the city’s schools. The ultimate goal is for the program to be implemented citywide, followed by a three-year effort to refine the district’s social-studies curriculum.
The executive director of PATHS stressed the importance of maintaining corporate sponsors and university collaborators throughout the program building process. It is essential to keep them engaged and give them a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, ongoing involvement and support from teachers is crucial, as they are eager for intellectual stimulation.
Overall, these new programs supported by the Rockefeller Foundation aim to enhance the teaching of humanities in schools across the country, with a focus on collaboration, creativity, and long-term success.
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