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　　"The Heart ofthe Matter," the just-released report by the American Academy of Arts andSciences (AAAS), deserves praise for affirming the importance of the humanitiesand social sciences to the prosperity and security of liberal democracy inAmerica. Regrettably, however, the report’s failure to address the true natureof the crisis facing liberal education may cause more harm than good.

　　In 2010, leadingcongressional Democrats and Republicans sent letters to the AAAS asking that itidentify actions that could be taken by "federal, state and localgovernments, universities, foundations, educators, individual benefactors andothers" to "maintain national excellence in humanities and socialscientific scholarship and education." In response, the American Academyformed the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences. Among thecommission’s 51 members are top-tier-university presidents, scholars, lawyers,judges, and business executives, as well as prominent figures from diplomacy,filmmaking, music and journalism.

　　The goals identifiedin the report are generally admirable. Because representative governmentpresupposes an informed citizenry, the report supports full literacy; stressesthe study of history and government, particularly American history and Americangovernment; and encourages the use of new digital technologies. To encourageinnovation and competition, the report calls for increased investment inresearch, the crafting of coherent curricula that improve students’ ability tosolve problems and communicate effectively in the 21st century, increased fundingfor teachers and the encouragement of scholars to bring their learning to bearon the great challenges of the day. The report also advocates greater study offoreign languages, international affairs and the expansion of study abroadprograms.

　　Unfortunately,despite 2½ years in the making, "The Heart of the Matter" never getsto the heart of the matter: the illiberal nature of liberal education at ourleading colleges and universities. The commission ignores that for severaldecades America's colleges and universities have produced graduates who don’tknow the content and character of liberal education and are thus deprived ofits benefits. Sadly, the spirit of inquiry once at home on campus has beenreplaced by the use of the humanities and social sciences as vehicles forpublicizing "progressive," or left-liberal propaganda.

　　Today, professorsroutinely treat the progressive interpretation of history and progressivepublic policy as the proper subject of study while portraying conservative orclassical liberal ideas—such as free markets and self-reliance—as fallingoutside the boundaries of routine, and sometimes legitimate, intellectualinvestigation.

　　The AAAS displaysgreat enthusiasm for liberal education. Yet its report may well set back reformby obscuring the depth and breadth of the challenge that Congress asked it toilluminate.