My Journey with the Overlooked Humanities | Yayun Xiao | TEDxJXEFLS Youth

Key Concepts:

Humanities, critical thinking, moral judgment, aesthetic sensibility, nonprofit organizations, rural education, resource disparity, social welfare, philosophy, history, art, literature, social change, empathy, emotional intelligence.

1. Introduction and Personal Background:

• The speaker, Yio from High School Attached to Shandong Normal University, introduces herself as a passionate advocate for humanities and someone involved in public welfare and education.
• She founded a nonprofit project dedicated to helping rural children access better educational resources.
• She acknowledges that her titles might seem impressive but emphasizes her role as a humanities advocate.

2. Defining the Humanities:

• Humanities are defined as disciplines that study human culture, thought, and social structures, including philosophy, history, art, and literature.
• The speaker emphasizes that humanities help us understand the past, present, and future of society and cultivate critical thinking, moral judgment, and aesthetic sensibility.
• She quotes her director, Alice, who said, "Stories shape our roots, and the stories which you choose to tell determine our future," highlighting the role of humanities in shaping society.

3. The Neglect of Humanities (Statistical Evidence):

• According to Harvard University, only 7% of the class of 2024 freshmen chose to major in Humanities.
• This statistic illustrates that humanities are not only neglected but also facing severe resource scarcity.

4. Part One: The Journey to Jia Primary School (2022):

• In 2022, the speaker joined the Lingo Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to help rural children access better educational resources.
• The team visited Jia Primary School in a southern area of Zibo, a small school nestled in the hills.
• The speaker was shocked by the lack of educational resources; the only math teacher was over 70 years old, and the principal taught multiple subjects.
• The initial goal was to teach English words and broaden the children's horizons.
• The speaker overheard girls talking about books and discovered they had limited access to literary works.
• The speaker realized that the children were not guided to explore the broader world of knowledge.
• She argues that if reading is invaluable, critical thinking cannot be nurtured, stereotypes cannot be questioned, social norms cannot be challenged, and alternative futures cannot be imagined.
• The team designed a series of classes to show the charm of humanity, including simple philosophy, art, and literature, encouraging critical thinking and questioning.

5. Part Two: The Broken Water Supply System (2023):

• In 2023, the speaker returned to Jia Primary School and learned that the water supply system was broken, leaving the village without running water for two weeks.
• Children had to carry buckets and walk a long distance to get water from a well.
• The speaker realized that the lack of educational resources permeated every aspect of life.
• She noticed the absence of a fan in the classroom, making it difficult for children to learn.
• The speaker proposed using their school's drama festival to raise money to improve the learning environment, such as purchasing books, equipment, or an AC.
• The proposal was rejected, which the speaker attributes to a lack of humanity courses and education.

6. The Rejection of Humanities and its Consequences:

• The speaker realized that humanities are not only neglected but also sometimes rejected.
• She observed that the absence of humanities education affects children's futures.
• Without philosophy education, they struggle to learn critical thinking.
• Without history education, they cannot understand social structures.
• Without exposure to literature, they lack the means to express their feelings, emotions, and thoughts, leading to mental health issues like depression.
• She quotes Peter Salovey, the president of Yale University: "Only the humanities can cultivate imaginative, empathetic, emotionally intelligent leaders."

7. The Power of Humanities in Social Change:

• The speaker concludes that promoting social changes is not only about STEM but also about humanities.
• Humanities can change human thoughts and values.

8. Conclusion:

The speaker emphasizes the critical role of humanities in fostering critical thinking, empathy, and emotional intelligence, arguing that they are essential for shaping individuals and driving positive social change, particularly in underserved communities. She highlights the need to address the neglect and rejection of humanities education to ensure a more equitable and enlightened future.