EDF 1005 Reflection Paper #15

Jackie Lawrence
EDF 1005
Reflection Paper #15

To the people of Ancient Rome and Greece, education was considered extremely important and held in high regard. Nonetheless, many differences in their structures existed. In Rome, even the poorest of children learned how to read and write, although they couldn’t receive a formal education because tuition was too high. Rich children were home-schooled by tutors; and girls were taught how to run a successful household from home because they were expected to get married by the time they were twelve. Meanwhile, in Athens, girls received formal schooling in how to become domesticated. Hetaerae, or courtesans, as the most highly educated women were called, were taught how to become good wives and companions for their husbands. Regular schools in Rome were for boys only and based education practices on fear. If students answered a question incorrectly, being beaten or whipped was not out of the ordinary. In both Rome and Greece, paper was very expensive, so writing practice was done on wax tablets. Also, students were taught to memorize everything since textbooks didn’t exist. In the earlier stages of Roman education, classes were informal and somewhat disorganized. It was the student’s sole duty to get the work done and have it checked by the teacher. Furthermore, no intelligence tests were performed to assess the skill levels of the students; we don’t even have evidence of exams given by teachers in the classroom. There were no laws mandating formal education, and schooling probably ended at age fourteen because that’s when Roman boys became responsible for paying taxes to the Empire. To the Romans, competition and athletics were considered more essential in molding their young. However, in Athens, little boys were schooled at home until the age of six or seven. Then, since formal education was cheap, most boys went to neighborhood primary schools. Some received private school education. They were only required to receive military training for two years once they turned eighteen. In schools, the boys learned athletics, such as gymnastics, as well as the arts and music. Literature was vital to the people of Athens, and children were taught subjects that prepared them for spiritual harmony and well-roundedness. Philosophy and peace were considered important facets in bringing up good and moral citizens.