While the importance of vocational education in today's economic climate cannot be denied, the current trend toward isolated career training should be countered with the recognition that a college education, the liberal arts in general, and the study of history in particular are vital agents in man's attempt to change society for the better. Indeed, historical studies enable students to understand the human consequences of the academic or technological principles they encounter and thus provide a necessary balance between career training and preparation for life. In addition, a sense of history allows the individual to identify the universal values that influence his/her behavior--the loss of this capability portends the loss of collective and individual identity. If history is to be restored to its rightful place in the curriculum, educators must abandon their traditional emphasis on the mastery of isolated facts and attempt to enlarge students' horizons, deepen their sensibilities, and help them transcend their prejudices through the presentation of opposing historical analyses. History instructors should increase their visibility in the community, make more use of available educational media, and restructure survey courses to include the history of ordinary people. By relating history to contemporary life, instructors can demonstrate that the students are themselves agents of social change. (JP)