Humanities and Humanity in an AI World: An Educator’s Manifesto

On The Purpose and Practice of K-12 Humanities Teaching in Today’s World, Co-written by Humanities Educators | 2026

Schools are moving quickly to adopt AI. New policies are being drafted. New tools are being piloted. Professional development is focused on integration and regulation. All of this work matters.

But as the AI conversation accelerated, something felt missing. There was little structured space for educators to wrestle with the deeper questions. Not simply how we use AI, but why. Not just what policies should shift, but what must endure.

Humanities teachers have had little time to step back and interrogate the larger issues about pedagogy, childhood, and humanity in an AI world:

• What is the enduring purpose of reading, writing, and discussion? 
• What must remain deeply human? 
• What shifts in classroom practice, not just policy, are required and why?

This fall, R.E.A.L.® Discussion created space for that conversation. We convened a collaborative of K–12 humanities educators and academic leaders to engage these foundational questions together. Over two months, participants read, wrote, reflected, and discussed what it means to teach the humanities at this pivotal moment.

“The real question is not simply what AI can do, but what only humans can do…This manifesto reflects the shared belief that educators have the expertise and daily influence to cultivate uniquely human capacities.”

Liza Garonzik, CEO, R.E.A.L.® Discussion

The result is Humanities and Humanity in an AI World: An Educator’s Manifesto — a co-constructed declaration about reading, writing, discussion, and the lived experience of being a humanities teacher today.

“We cannot let the AI conversation stay only at the level of tools,” said Liza Garonzik, Founder of R.E.A.L.® Discussion. “The real question is not simply what AI can do, but what only humans can do. We are already living through a conversation crisis. Students are more screen-bound and less practiced in live dialogue. This manifesto reflects the shared belief that educators have the expertise and daily influence to cultivate uniquely human capacities. If we intentionally teach students to read deeply, write clearly, and engage in real discussion, we are not pushing back against the future; we are guiding it. This is our opportunity to lead a true Conversation Comeback.”

We offer this manifesto as an invitation. If your school is ready to move beyond tactical AI conversations and into foundational ones, we encourage you to read the document, share it with your team, and use the reflection questions on the final page to begin your own discussion.

At R.E.A.L.® Discussion, we help schools translate conversations like these into coherent, skills-based practice. If you are ready to build a deliberate approach to reading, writing, and discussion in an AI-shaped world, we would welcome the opportunity to partner with you.

We hope you’ll join us on LinkedIn for the conversation about the Manifesto.