A resurgence in humanities education is a positive and welcoming opportunity for school librarians to collaborate and exercise their professional training to foster civic engagement and digital literacy. The study of humanities has long been considered the work of thinkers: individuals who ponder, question, and consider philosophy, ethics, culture, history, and literature. Engaging in civic discourse requires information on a broad range of topics as well as opportunities to engage in reflection, critical thinking, and problem solving. These skills remain relevant and essential for students preparing to enter the workforce. According to Gareth Loudon,

The World Economic Forum's 2016 future of jobs report highlighted that most educational systems still "provide highly siloed training" with a "dichotomy between humanities and sciences." But industry needs people who can take on cross-functional roles and have technical, social and analytic skills. The report went on to list complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity as the top three skills needed in the workforce by 2020 (2018).

With their understanding of literature, application of technologies across the curriculum, and promoting the research process librarians are well suited to create opportunities for student creativity and critical thinking. For example, guiding students through the research process requires teaching them to be savvy consumers, evaluators, and searchers using a range of information literacy and critical thinking skills. While creativity is often associated with the arts and humanities, Loudon suggests it is also vital for solving problems in other disciplines. "Important creativity skills include listening, observation and empathy as well as experimentation, collaboration and analysis—skills from humanities and science" (2018).

Librarians have traditionally engaged students with literature through book clubs, poetry slams, or author studies. These remain excellent opportunities to engage in critical thinking around universal themes, the influence of culture on society, and the development of empathy. Additionally, librarians can maximize their potential in connecting students to information and the world outside school. Librarians may tap community partners such as the local historical society, parks, or philanthropic organizations to promote engagement with community issues. Students can be both consumers and creators of information, giving back to their communities with digital or print products that can be used by and within the community.

Stumped for ideas on getting started with civic engagement programming? PBS NewsHour provides samples lessons for civic engagement. Many organizations incorporate teaching activities on their websites. For example, the American Political Science Association has developed the meaty Teaching Civic Engagement from Student to Active Citizen. Likewise, UNESCO's website, provides global citizenship education resources.

If your concern is getting other educators and administrators on board or convincing students that more than technical skills are needed in their future careers, share Robert Guthrie's "Why the Humanities Matter in K-12 Education," which will provide justification for incorporating humanities programming across the curriculum.

Ilana Gershon and Noah Berlatsky also discuss how humanities courses provide preparation for living. Beyond the practical, like how to apply to a job or write a resume, the humanities teach students how to successfully engage with others in a larger community. As they describe, "Studying humanities allows you to see yourself through others' eyes by teaching you about other cultures and other ways of viewing the world. By understanding others and entering into their worlds, we become better and broader people" (2017).

Works Cited

Gershon, Ilana, and Noah Berlatsky. "Studying Humanities Teaches You How to Get a Job." Pacific Standard, October 12, 2017. https://psmag.com/education/studying-humanities-teaches-you-how-to-get-a-job

Guthrie, Robert. "Why the Humanities Matter in K-12 Education." Thesis Magazine, February 6, 2015. http://www.thesismag.com/2015/02/06/why-the-humanities-matter-in-k-12-education/

Loudon, Gareth. "Creativity Can Be the Bridge between Science and Humanities Education." The Conversation, October 16, 2018. http://theconversation.com/creativity-can-be-the-bridge-between-science-and-humanities-education-99610

World Economic Forum. The Future of Jobs, January 2016. http://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2016/.

Resources

American Political Science Association: http://web.apsanet.org/teachingcivicengagement/about/teaching-civic-engagement-from-student-to-active-citizen/.

PBS NewsHour Lesson Plans: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/lesson-plan/

UNESCO: https://en.unesco.org/themes/gced/resources