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A Human Education

Education should cultivate distinctly human capacities—counting, naming, measuring, reasoning, moralizing, and creating art—yet modern schooling treats children as workers for industrial systems rather than as humans to be formed. The term "humanitas" once meant both "humanity" and "education" simultaneously, reflecting the understanding that true education trains us to do what humans do best. When education aligns with human nature, we experience the joy and delight that comes from fulfilling our purpose. The Humanitas Institute seeks to restore this understanding of education—not as innovation but as recovery of what education has always been: formation oriented toward human flourishing rather than mere utility. Just as shoes are made for feet, authentic education must be designed for human beings according to our nature.

Dr. Christopher Perrin photo By Dr. Christopher Perrin

February 16, 2026

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A Human Education

From Substack

This article was originally published on Substack

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Education should cultivate distinctly human capacities—counting, naming, measuring, reasoning, moralizing, and creating art—yet modern schooling treats children as workers for industrial systems rather than as humans to be formed. The term "humanitas" once meant both "humanity" and "education" simultaneously, reflecting the understanding that true education trains us to do what humans do best. When education aligns with human nature, we experience the joy and delight that comes from fulfilling our purpose. The Humanitas Institute seeks to restore this understanding of education—not as innovation but as recovery of what education has always been: formation oriented toward human flourishing rather than mere utility. Just as shoes are made for feet, authentic education must be designed for human beings according to our nature.

Dr. Christopher Perrin photo

Dr. Christopher Perrin

Editor

Christopher Perrin is the CEO at Classical Academic Press and the Director of Strategic Content for the Humanitas Institute.