It is the premise of this article that note of the current models for teaching art I American schools is appropriate as a way of structuring art in general education, The article makes a case, within the content of recent calls for educational reform, for using a humanities approach to art in general education. In addressing the role of the humanities in art education, it is necessary to answer a number f basic questions: What are the humanities? How have the humanities been viewed in the recent educational reform literature? What places have the humanities had in art education? What is a humanities approach to art education, and why is it important? What might be done to promote a humanities approach to art education? What Are The Humanities? A dictionary definition of the humanities describes them as that which concerns the interests and ideals of people. The word humanities traditionally conjures up an image of a Great Books-approach to the study of Literature, history, philosophy, and the arts.