Reflection #15 EDF1005 Athens and Rome

Samantha Clarke
Reflection #15 EDF1005 Athens and Rome

The difference between ancient Athenians Education and Roman Education
The crave for education in ancient Rome had lead to many advances and prestige. Their press for education has shaped many of our civilization, giving much bearings on education and politics. The fashion of their learning took place in a sophisticated abstract manner; which have fused many controversies and caused many paradigm shifts. Empires were in control of schools and the state showed great interest in education which had a significant impact on the society. However education was not an affordable commodity for the poor and there was no tax supported schools back then. Only the rich were able to attend. Never the less the poor were literate. Learning in Rome was an intense process, students learn in fear of getting whipped if they weren’t learning.

In Rome there were two main types of schools, one almost like what we call the elementary school, students attend at age eleven and learned to read write and do basis math. The next is an advance school that would teach speech communication and how to write. These schools were attended by only boys as the girls stayed home and learn home management. Contrary to this, girls who’s families are rich had a chance to be educated, this was done in the home and the basis of the content was the effective running of the kitchen and how to be a good wife.

Unlike Rome, education in Athens was more of a free for all. In earlier years almost anyone could afford the luxury of attending school. It was not until the more advance stages in education that calls for a more formal training that education became expensive due to the cost of books. The emphasis of education in ancient Athens was placed on areas of the arts. Citizens were trained to be effective in peace and war. Boys were not required to train in areas of military but was given the opportunity to venture into what their fathers thought was best. Boys attended school at about age six and the main focus was on gymnastics, learning to do dance moves and play games. The older boys were more into the advance games such as boxing, and wrestling. They also learned to reading and mathematics. Most of their learning was done through a process of memorization. Because formal education required the use of expensive books the poorer boys had to proceed to apprenticeship. It is through the formal school system that Plato, Aristotle and Isocrates taught.