Effective curriculum development should be based on our beliefs about how human beings can best learn and develop in a rapidly changing social and physical environment. The practices at two San Diego schools, Valhalla High School and Baker Elementary School, that provide humanistic environments include having every high school pupil known well by at least one faculty member; staff, parents, and pupils working together as a team; cross-discipline courses; and a course in social living. Other practices that could help schools become more humane are functioning curriculum development and inservice education programs, personalized learning, and letting students help set the classroom goals and engage in problem-solving. Organizing practices such as interdisciplinary learning, cross-age teaching, bringing the community into the schools, and life-long learning also help schools become more humane. The appendix lists papers and other source material and a selected bibliography categorizes material under headings of books, articles, general magazines, and tapes. (Author/MLF)