Why Kids Still Need the Humanities (Yes, Even in a Tech-Obsessed World)
In the age of coding bootcamps and AI everything, it’s easy for the humanities to feel like the dusty attic of education: full of charm, perhaps, but not exactly where the action is. As parents, we want our kids to thrive, to be employable, to have options. So when a teenager expresses an interest in philosophy, literature, or history, many of us experience a brief moment of panic. (“Shouldn’t you be learning Python instead?”)
But before you gently steer them toward data science, consider this: the world doesn’t just need people who build the systems. It needs people who ask whether those systems are fair, who know how to tell a story, and who understand the lessons of history well enough not to repeat them. The humanities and liberal arts are not a luxury. They’re essential. And not just for lofty ideals—there are real-world benefits, career options, and civic gains that come from studying these fields. You just have to know where to look.
First, let’s be honest about the tradeoffs. A degree in English or anthropology doesn’t come with the kind of linear career pipeline that engineering or nursing might. There’s no automatic job offer waiting at graduation, no clearly mapped-out set of certifications to climb. That can be scary. It can even feel indulgent.
But what students gain in flexibility, they more than make up for in adaptability—and in today’s economy, that’s gold. Employers are no longer just looking for technical know-how. They want employees who can think critically, write clearly, speak persuasively, and adapt quickly to new information. Those are the superpowers of a liberal arts education.
A literature major who can dissect Shakespeare's Othello can probably handle a tricky policy memo. A philosophy student who has wrestled with Kant and Nietzsche might also be quite good at navigating ethical dilemmas in tech product design. A history grad who understands the rise and fall of empires may bring valuable insights to global marketing, diplomacy, or nonprofit work.
And yes, there are jobs. Plenty of them. Communications, journalism, education, law, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, UX design, human resources, museum curation, public service—the list goes on. In fact, many of the roles that require high emotional intelligence, storytelling ability, or analytical reasoning are tailor-made for humanities grads. These careers might not come with six-figure starting salaries, but they often offer meaningful work, leadership opportunities, and room to grow.
But perhaps the strongest argument for encouraging your child to study the humanities has nothing to do with career prospects and everything to do with character.
People Need More Than Just Coding Skills
In a world spinning ever faster—divided, digital, and often dehumanized—kids need more than coding skills. They need compassion. They need perspective. They need to understand the long arc of history, the nuance of language, the complexity of identity, and the struggle for justice. The humanities train the moral imagination. They offer a mirror to the self and a window into others. They teach students not just what to think, but how to think—and why it matters.
When a student engages deeply with literature, they learn empathy. When they explore political theory, they begin to see how systems shape society—and how they might improve them. When they study history, they realize that the present didn’t just happen. It was shaped, often painfully, by people’s choices. That kind of understanding fosters humility, resilience, and civic responsibility.
And let’s not forget: democracy needs good citizens more than it needs good test scores. It needs people who can debate ideas with civility, recognize propaganda when they see it, and care about more than their own self-interest. The humanities are where those muscles get built.
Of course, this doesn’t mean every child should become a classics scholar. But it does mean we should stop treating the humanities like an educational afterthought. If your child shows interest in writing, debate, ethics, languages, or history, don’t discourage it—nurture it. Help them see that these fields are not a dead end, but a foundation. Encourage them to double major, minor, or find interdisciplinary paths that let them pair the liberal arts with tech, science, or business.
Because here’s the secret no one tells you at career day: the world changes fast. The jobs your child will hold may not even exist yet. Technical skills will evolve, and software will change. But the ability to reason, empathize, write, analyze, and lead? That endures.
The humanities offer a compass in a world of accelerators. And in raising children who study them, we’re not just raising workers—we’re raising thoughtful humans, capable citizens, and maybe even, someday, transformative leaders.
So the next time your kid says they want to study English or history or philosophy, don’t panic. Smile. You just might be raising someone the world really, truly needs.
