Humanities

Humanities I & II, taken in 9th and 10th grades, is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of
literature, history, world religions and belief systems, ethics, and the arts. The two-year course examines the
human condition in a historical context asking essential questions aimed at understanding our core experiences
as human beings. For example, how do different peoples/cultures perceive their worlds? Where do they find
importance and place value? How do differing world views affect their behavior?

Humanities I
Students examine the variables of nature and nurture as they relate to the development of
societies. Particular emphasis is given to the roles of geography and human nature and the manner in which
they shape both people’s world views and cultures’ belief systems. The students focus on early civilizations,
examining their origins and what these civilizations look like in today’s society. Through learning about the
geography, history, literature, politics, religion, and cultural norms of a range of global regions, the students will
also understand and broaden their own views.

Humanities II
Humanities II is an exploration of the religious, cultural, and philosophical values that have
shaped the world’s civilizations as depicted in art, literature, philosophy, and historical documents. During the
first trimester students investigate the history and cultures of the Middle East and the belief systems underlying
contemporary conflicts. During the second trimester students engage in a comparative study of political and
social systems in early modern Europe and East Asia. In the third trimester students focus on the upheavals of
the 20th century, beginning with the Russian Revolution and ending with the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

Some of the texts to be read and discussed include: Siddhartha, Antigone, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Lord
of the Flies, Things Fall Apart, Bhagavad-Gita, Richard III, Animal Farm, Galileo, and All Quiet on the Western
Front, as well as selected short pieces of fiction and nonfiction, and a customized historical reader produced by
the Humanities faculty.

Writing & Research Courses
Writing Workshop is a required one-trimester course for all freshmen. The course includes structured work in
vocabulary development as well as exercises in reading, research, and writing in essay form. Topic/subject areas include a broad spectrum ranging from ancient Greek mythology to issues of contemporary physics, culminating with an in-depth research project on a topic related to a current regional conflict in the world.

Research and the Community is a required one-trimester course for all sophomores. The course builds a
foundation of research skills while opening students’ eyes to the needs and issues of their community. Students
learn and apply “Big 6” research principles, strive to better understand the historical background of the issues
facing their neighborhoods today, and work with local agencies and companies, many of them located in the
Presidio, to produce work that will serve community needs.