Humanities can be simplistically defined as a program, as a set of related or unrelated activities, or as human and humane interaction. The following assumptions are important in establishing humanities programs in the elementary school: programs must be reality oriented; there should be an emphasis on direct participation for the student; teaching should be value directed; the atmosphere of the place where children work should be interesting and inviting; evaluation of learning should be from a different perspective; and the child's self-perception should be emphasized in such programs. The translation of these assumptions about the humanities into practice requires that thought be given to the particular humanizing responsibilities and functions appropriate to the schools of today for the responsible human behavior needed in the twenty-first century. (LL)