In an article headlined "Why arts and humanities matter" (Los Angeles Times, June 20) James Cuno, chief executive and president of the J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles, states that without citizens who can read, write and analyze, society falters and competitiveness suffers. He says that as students try to get into fields that offer higher pay — science, technology, engineering and math — they often neglect taking arts and humanities classes.
He declares that institutions have responded by cutting budgets in those classes and argues that we should be investing more funds, not less, into these subjects. "Studying the humanities strengthens the ability to communicate and work with others... Without artists, sociologists, English majors and political theorists — along with engineers and scientists — to envision what the future looks like, that exciting potential will never be realized." Cuno says that most employers want schools to place more emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving as well as written and oral communication.
