Honor Societies Form Alliance To Bolster Liberal Arts Education

By Kathleen Kennedy Manzo

Washington

Three prominent academic-honor societies for high school and college students are banding together to improve liberal arts education and to counter what the organizations' leaders say is a growing public perception that technology- centered skills are of more value than studies in the traditional disciplines.

The National Honor Society has joined the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the venerable honor society for college and university students, and Phi Theta Kappa, which recognizes academic achievement among community college students, in creating the Alliance for Educational Excellence. The alliance, unveiled here last week, will include enrichment programs and expanded efforts to provide more support to teachers and students.

"American high schools and community colleges, as well as four-year institutions, are under pressure to train a workforce rather than to educate a community," said Douglas Foard, the executive secretary of Phi Beta Kappa. "Students think they can take a one-year certificate course in computer networking and programming and start earning $50,000 a year," he said. "It's imperative to communicate to faculty and students that they must learn how to live a life, rather than simply have the skill...