The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1892-06-06
Ancient Greek Education /.

sOf all animals, says FIato, the
boy Is the most unmanagable, the
most insidious, sharp1witted and in
subordinate, The same authority
would have two Or three stout nurs-
es to carry about each child, chiefly
iii order to obviate their rowing, in
] which respect lie considers them far
inferior to the lower animals. On
the whole, We find very little s,mpa-
thy expressed by the Greek philoso-
pliers and authors for this much
abused class of humanity, Yet
these ancient Greek lads doubtless
differed hut little from the modern
representatives Of the class: there
was the same spirit Of mischief the
same curiosity, the same yiyacity
and ingenuity. Among the Spar
tans, indeed, the boys very life de-
pended upon the decision Of the
public officials, and the ground Of
their Judgment was his physical
formation. II the promising condi-
ton Of his body led to a favorable
decision, the boy was left to the
training Of his mother and nurse
until his seventh year when be be-
came the property Of the state and
thenceforth instructed entirely nn-
der the direction Of the government.
The almost exclusive object Of their
education was to fit them for militia
ry service, and hence consisted large
lyof drill in gymnastics and tactics.
Even the women took part in gym
nastic exercises, and they won
q reputation for grace and beauty
throughout all Greece, The pupils
were taught to cultivate great brew
tY of speech and their proficiency in
this is tattested by the fact that
their name aconic-is still used
to describe their style Of speech.
The natural result Of their system
Of education was to produce a limited
number Of men, who were utterlytin-
different and fearless in war and ST
lent and gloomy in peace; but it was
highly artifcialand, as such, could
not long resist the tendencies and
demands of human nature. The
idea Of a liberal education was en-
tirely unknown TO these stern men
Of war. Literary training was con
fined to a study of Homer and one
Or two other poets. while the scienc-
es were rigidlY excluded. except mu
sic and dancing, which were encour-
aged sorely for their martial influ-
ence.
Atheos was, however, the great
centre Of edueationaf influences and
institutions Its advantages in this
respect attracted to it nearly all am
bitions foreign students: it was the.
only place where a broad and liberal
education could be obtained. There
We're % purely professional schools,
and the aim was to give only Il genl
eral culture through the study of
the classics and sciences. "A great
scholar has said that, with the ex-
eeption Of the gymnastic training,
the education OF the Greek bows was
very like8to what is, and has been.
the received education of girls in
our own civilization. Their moral
supervision is said to have been
strictersthan is now practiced in the
training ofgirls. At the age Of sew
en- each boy was put under the care
Of 2 peddgogue, who was generally
the most trusted and hest educated
Of. the domestic slaves. BY this
male gooerness he was most careful
Is guarded and his associations and
morals were closely watched The
result was youth Of rare, maidenly
nodests and of perfect innocence
and ignorence in regard to crime,
possessed OF q body which has never
been eqnalled in grace and beauty.
The subjects in which instruction
was given were, after reading and
writing, literature a very thorough
and comprehensive course), music,
both vocal and instrumental, arith-
metic, geometry, history, law and
the state religion. Law was not
Taught as a separate profession, but
was thought necessary to the edu-
cation Of every good citizen. Music
was cultivated for its smoothness Of
effect upon tile immotions, inzorder
that the pupils might become ''more
rhythmical and harmonious and be
better men IN speech and action. I
Perhaps no better idea Of eduea.
tional2 methods and aims can be
given than By eondensing the ae-
count Of Plato. he says in effect: