Something Big Is Happening on Campus
The article highlights the positive aspects of higher education, focusing on passionate teachers who inspire students through humanistic study. It emphasizes the importance of deep learning and self-exploration in shaping individuals and society. The piece argues that humanistic education is essential for fostering citizenship and democracy.
- ▪Roosevelt Montás, who grew up in the Dominican Republic, found inspiration in literature that changed his life.
- ▪Teachers who embody a passion for learning are making a significant impact across various types of universities.
- ▪Humanistic education prepares students not just for jobs, but for a life of freedom and moral responsibility.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
IdeasSomething Big Is Happening on CampusThere’s a lot going right at universities, if you're only willing to see it.By David BrooksIllustration by The Atlantic: Source: Laurie Michaels / Bridgeman ImagesMay 17, 2026, 8:43 AM ET ShareSave Roosevelt Montás grew up in a small mountain village in the Dominican Republic. Two days before his 12th birthday, his mother flew him up to New York, where she had found a minimum-wage job in a garment factory. A few years later, when he was a sophomore in high school, some neighbors in his apartment building threw out a bunch of books. One of them was a finely bound volume of Socratic dialogues.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.