The industrial model has penetrated every avenue of American existence; even education is compartmentalized in the United States for the purposes of management and immediate efficiency. One initial step that has been taken toward creative and constructive change in education is the institution of cross-disciplinary humanities courses. English departments can fit into the broad humanities curricula by offering courses that are team taught by an English and a social studies teacher. The literature base for such humanities courses must be strong and should help students to increase their understanding of the world, both science and art, and their ability to effectively deal with symbol systems and metaphor. (CC)