The Irish standard., 1893-08-12
THE MIDDLE AGES
The Impression That They Were
Dark Ages With Little Edu-
cation is Erroneous.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE
The Assertion There Were No
Primary Schools Prior to the
Reformation is False.

The following is condensed abstract
Of an interesting lecture delivered by
Brother Azerias of De La Sale Institute,
New York, at the Catholic Summer
School:
The impression exists and is occasion
ally reproduced in books on pedagogical
sinidies, that there was very little educa-
tion in the Middle Ages, that the schools
we're few, that the teachers were un-
cultured, and that there was al absence
of ell method in imparting knowledge.
The statement is wholly and absolutely
false. Schools were numerous, the
courses of study were mapped out, and
certain methods were observed in inn
parting instruction. We find the Cloistral
schools hourlshing in this first half Of
the fourth Gentry. The doors Of this
monastery were open TO boys as we'll as
TO men. Lessons were given three times
q day. None were permitted to remain
in the monastery who had not learned to
read, and who did not know certain por-
lions Of the Scriptures. st. Benedict
was the founder and organizer OF mon
astic life and tho monastic schools in the
West. During his Life time he took into
his monastery the sons of the Roman
nobility and educated them. These
children were trained up to their 18th
year with the youths whose parents had
oonsecrated to the service of God.
At that age they made choice either to
remain and enter the novitiate, or. to
withdraw into the world.
st. Basil even anticipated modern
times in another respect. Much is spoken
and written at present concerning
manual training and the formation of
trade schools. Now, it so happens that
Basil regulated for certain number of
trades to be learned and practicad.
Children should begin to learn some one
or other as soon as they were able. The
ninth century set in darkness. The
tenth opened up an ara Of warfare and
bloodshed and ravagings, and on the
ruins began the building up of a new
order of things. With the eleventh
century came brighter dawn. Ian
franc Q045-1089) carried to Bee the
learning OF Italy. His school became
famous and was thronged with youths
from all parts of Europe. He taught
without fee; such offerings as were made
went towards the building of this
monastery. Before he became known
i'm England as a great statesman he had
won the esteem Of bishops, and even the
Pope, whose studies he directed. Anse]m
034-l109) continued with no less
brilliant results the work that Lanfranc
had carried on, and the monks of Bee
became famous for their scholarship and
proficiency in philosophy.
The court school OF the Merovingian
and Carlovingian kings of France is
known as the Palatine school. It had
its origin in pre- Christian times. Chris.
tianity stepped in and sancti6ed this
custom. Under the Merovingians it es
tablished the school which is known as
the .chapel-so called from the Capella
of st. Martin of Tours. Aptonius, who
was the first chaplin under Clovis (481-
Sly may be regarded as the father of
the Palatine chapel. Henceforth this
school became the centre whence radiates
the light Of learning in France. From
the time of Clothaire II. the school as.
eumes moro regular form and it's char
acter, it's studies, it's men and it's in
duence can be better outlined.
Bethanus was loved, esteemed and
venerated as an angel from Heaven.
We are told that he caused minds and
hearts to flourish by wise studies and
nourished tie souls of the youth con-
6ded to him with paternal care. What
were the studies pursued?
There were grammar, dialectics and
rhetoric; there were the more special
studies Of Roman law, national customs
and traditions, models of Gallo Roman
eloquence, and even of the Gallo.
Frankish literature. The Vernacular
tongues were already attracting atten-
ion, and we find the rhetoricians dis
tinguishing between the artifcialness OF
Greek. the circumspect measure OF
Latin, the splendor Of the Gallo tongue
and the pomp OF the English. History
occupied large place in the course;
under this heading was included q study
of the great national epios. Christian
dogma and Christian philosophy also
found their place. In g word, il was 3
,school of superior studies. Then came