Reflection # 15

Angela Gregoire
Reflection # 15
Differences in ancient Athenian education and Roman education
The systems of education in both Athens and Rome have immensely influenced the system of education in America. The Athenians main emphasis was on music, literacy, and physical education. They believed that young Athenians should be well- rounded and should have healthy bodies. The Romans on the other hand taught basic skills in literacy and did not stress as much on the importance of music and exercise. The Romans had a similar program to the Athenians for their wealthy and skilled young men. In Athens, famous philosophers and teachers in the name of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato had a particular interest in education and they helped to shape the education system with their philosophies. In Rome mention must be made of Quintilian and Cicero, two important men who contributed to the education system.
In ancient Athens nurses and parents taught students good manners, morals, and respect for the gods. Athenian children were accompanied to school by a leader who was responsible for teaching good manners and values. Children began school at six or seven and continued until they were fourteen years old. Formal education for poor males stopped at fourteen years and from then on it was apprenticeship at a trade. Boys from affluent families were then taught by philosophers. The wealthy boys were instructed by Plato and they learned arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and harmonics. Literature was an important subject to study in Athens. Unlike the boys, the girls did not receive formal education. Instead they were trained to do domestic work. They learned music and they were able to write and read in their own homes. The girls were prepared to be good housewives. Some of the rich educated women in Athens were specially trained to be the companions of wealthy men. Most boys went through military training at eighteen years for two years to become a full citizen, and if he could afford he was free to further his education. Like most ancient colonies boys were far more educated than girls. These ideologies affected many other civilizations in the west. Education was very important in Athens and the great philosophers of the day reiterated its importance.
To this day many believe that the Roman education system was influenced by the Athenians. The Romans had a very organized system and understood the importance of knowledge. Homeschooling began at six years and children were taught by their parents and a nurse. Like Athens, girls were not as educated as the boys. They received a basic primary education in preparation for marriage to become efficient wives. They were given skills in sewing, and music. Girls got married at about twelve years old while boys got married at fourteen. They were taught in Greek and Latin. Children did writing and reading and memorized heroic extracts and stories with moral endings. Most of their arithmetic was done using the abacus. Roman children were not spared the rod although some great teachers there thought it was disgraceful and should only be used by slaves. At twelve years rich boys were taught literature, language, music, and philosophy in what is equivalent to secondary schools. The boys were taught mainly by Greek teachers because the teachers were thought to be well educated. At that time Greek language and literature was more significant than Latin. The Romans emphasized the importance of qualified teachers because they had to meet the students’ needs.
At about sixteen years boys received liberal arts education by teachers of rhetoric. There they were expected to be almost perfect. Their skills in sentence writing, composition, vocabulary, rhythm were tested and once they were skilled enough they began writing speeches. After writing these speeches they had to recite them. Some lucky boys completed their education in a foreign country and they were prepared to be good public speakers. The Romans did not offer much choice in the selection of subject to be learned although the school day was very long. Much of the learning was done with great fear and boys were punished for any offense. It was generally thought that they would learn better with an element of fear. Because books were too expensive the lessons were given orally.
Generally the education systems of Athens and Rome were very similar because it is clear that the Roman system was greatly influenced by the Athenian system. Most of the countries favored educating males while females received just basics. It is clear that women have been oppressed for a very long time. The Athenians had a more integrated system while the Romans concentrated on a few areas. The Athenians stressed heavily on physical education, but both colonies had a similar structure consisting of primary, secondary, and higher education. Famous teachers like Cicero influenced Roman education while Plato, Aristotle and Socrates laid the foundation for Athens. The Roman children did a lot of rote learning while the Athenians were influenced by the Socratic Method. Children in Roman were given few opportunities to question why while in Athens the questioning method was used. In Athens school attendance was not mandated by the state. The Athenians placed importance in virtues, moral values, and physical education and the Romans stressed rhetoric for it has shaped the educational structure. In conclusion, both Rome and Athens had great scholars who laid the foundation for an education system which influenced the system we have today.