The root of many of the problems in education today is the shift in values from humanism to humanitarianism. While humanism elevates the individual, humanitarianism attempts to elevate mankind in general. Humanists feel that human problems stem from faults within individuals, and that the central purpose in life is to improve and discipline oneself. Humanitarians believe that human problems are caused by society and that the chief task is to correct social ills. Today's overspecialization causes people to forget humanistic values and focus only on their own microscopic areas of knowledge. Also people today suffer from an inability to apply knowledge to everyday problems. However, progress can be made if education returns to an emphasis on humanistic values, to an emphasis on individuals rather than society, and to an emphasis on self-discipline rather than social problems. Emphasis must be placed on the development of critical faculties and stringent moral values. Furthermore, each person must begin to accept more individual responsibility for self-improvement and for improving the immediate surroundings. (Author/JM)