Humanities― A subject to learn or Common-sense?
Thinking back in time; a typical engineering student will surely have something to say about learning a myriad of subjects like calculus, chemistry and derivatives. And it is precisely why quotes like these prick us in the soul.
“Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
―Will Durant
This article tries to uncover an enormous load of qualms upon the essentiality and excellence, that a subject termed “USELESS” by many, draws upon our lives.
What is Humanities Course?
For Indian students; it is a course for those dumb witted morons who either don’t like maths or they are they bad at studies.
But please wait… hold on to your horses, ’cause there’s more to it than meets the eye.
The Humanities course refers to programs in two major categories―arts and culture―that are formulated to enrich a student’s knowledge of the world beyond their own life and broaden one’s thought beyond their family and society. In a day in the age, where everyone is glued inside their homes, binge-watching their favourite TV show on repeat; you get to introspect about your contributions to society. All thanks to COVID-19.
What do Universities mould a student of Humanities to be?
A Humanities student would be one who has an all-rounded, well dignified social understanding and critical thinking, reasoning & writing skills.
In addition to the expectations upon any other university student:
“Participate and engage in all courses in which you are enrolled. Take responsibility for your learning and accessing additional help.”
―The University of Newcastle, Australia.
Isn’t Humanities the same as what we learnt till class 12?
Yes, and more to learn from where we left. In retrospection, haven’t we all learnt something in the past that we haven’t understood much and have later understood the full functioning of, and more?
We learn tit-bits in a moduled fashion, and from what is pertinent and suitable according to our current age and perception.
Can’t we just rote-learn?
At the same time of writing this article, there have also been cases reported of unauthorised NCERT book publications. When there are plenty of unauthorised books in circulation, guidance is good, to begin with.
Meanwhile, there are also many professors putting out lectures in paid as well as open-source platforms. The individual value of learning by one’s self-interest highly outweighs that which is an imposition on you.
So, do we really need to have Humanities as a professional degree?
“Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.”
–Jacques Barzun
Many learn everything only by watching the relevant Youtube channels and learn triviality from College. Every student finds out at his own pace. A professionally introduced subject empowers the student with knowledge passed down through generations of common mistakes recognized and amended. At the same juncture, it deprives(and also creates opportunities) the entertainment and enthusiasm of involvement in individually identifying and recovering values to the broken system.
“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”
–Thomas Carruthers
COVID-19 effect
Teachers around the globe(irrespective of the course) are working arduously, to educate in this unusual academic year. Many companies have come forward with enabling technology-supports to help complete the tutor-scholar association.
Inference
At the end of the day, it is the desire of the individual that accords for the necessity of the mode of learning. It is common to see a loss of interest in both modes discussed above. Yet, there couldn’t be a more important subject in the education system.
Now; going back to the concern implored in the outset. Uses of
Calculus: Statistics of COVID-spread; prediction of astronomical bodies, weather patterns, electric and electronic circuits and systems, and the movement of sound and light
Chemistry: Essential for meeting our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, energy, and clean air, water, and soil.
Derivatives: A way to show the rate of change: that is, the amount by which a function is changing at one given point.
Hope this writing was illuminating and recreative to read!
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