Roman Education and Our Own
Our education system was based on and inspired by Roman schooling. However, despite the resemblances, there are stark differences between our modern education and the education of ancient Rome.
Similarities
Roman and modern schools both had different stages from which students could go through. They both started learning basic reading and writing ar early levels of childhood and entered an actualy school at around the same age (6-7 for Roman pupils and 5-6 for our modern students.) AFter the first stages were done with, they moved on to higher education and were taught by more intelletcual teachers.
A clear example of this higher education is universities taken by modern students and when the students learned lessons from their rhetor. The teachers have been trained to higher degrees and the knowledge being taught to the students is much greater than the one recieved at early stages of education.
The day for students was also a long one- some schools were from sun up to sun down, while others were of six hours- it depended on the season since most classes would end once the day began to darken. It is the same for modern students- most schools require seven hours. And both modern and ancient students had a short break for their lunch.
A clear example of this higher education is universities taken by modern students and when the students learned lessons from their rhetor. The teachers have been trained to higher degrees and the knowledge being taught to the students is much greater than the one recieved at early stages of education.
The day for students was also a long one- some schools were from sun up to sun down, while others were of six hours- it depended on the season since most classes would end once the day began to darken. It is the same for modern students- most schools require seven hours. And both modern and ancient students had a short break for their lunch.
Differences
As with most things, the differences far out weigh the similarities.
BOYS AND GIRLS
In ancient Rome, boys and girls were taught together only rarely, and girl's education would end at around age seven- from their they would learn how to clean and cook while most of the boys continued going to school. However, in our modern age, girls and boys are taught together for as long as they stay in school. They learn the same things, equally and at the same time and are usually not segregated.
DISCIPLINE
In today's society, child abuse is seen as one of the most dispicable things that a person can do. In ancient Rome, floggings were not unusual, and teachers would be quick to punish students for the most trivial things. However, hitting a child now, in school or otherwise, is a serious crime and jail time is usually associated with this crime. Punishments these days include detentions, dusting blackboard erasers, writing sentences, or expulsion from the class itself.
MONEY- the Grey Area
School always had a fee in Rome, albeit a small one, but one nonetheless, and as the students progressed through school the fee would increase until only the rich could afford it. In public schools, for the most part, the first couple of years are free, usually up to grade 12, but, from then on, in order to get a higher education, the fees increase dramatically- which makes this aspect of schooling a grey area since it is both the same and different. The good schools can charge anywhere from $50,000 and higher, leaving most students in debt.
HOLIDAYS- And the Grey Areas Continue
The week was longer in Rome, a "nine day" week, and on the ninth- market day. Going to the market would excuse students from having to attend school. This is not the case in modern education. We have a seven day week, and Saturday and Sunday are the rest days- where, if we so choose, and most of us do- we can go to the grocery store. However, students also had holidays, and suring hese they didn't have to go to school either- the longest being during the hotter parts of the year. Most students wouldn't have gone anyway, since hot weather makes for slow minds and equally slow tongues.
BOYS AND GIRLS
In ancient Rome, boys and girls were taught together only rarely, and girl's education would end at around age seven- from their they would learn how to clean and cook while most of the boys continued going to school. However, in our modern age, girls and boys are taught together for as long as they stay in school. They learn the same things, equally and at the same time and are usually not segregated.
DISCIPLINE
In today's society, child abuse is seen as one of the most dispicable things that a person can do. In ancient Rome, floggings were not unusual, and teachers would be quick to punish students for the most trivial things. However, hitting a child now, in school or otherwise, is a serious crime and jail time is usually associated with this crime. Punishments these days include detentions, dusting blackboard erasers, writing sentences, or expulsion from the class itself.
MONEY- the Grey Area
School always had a fee in Rome, albeit a small one, but one nonetheless, and as the students progressed through school the fee would increase until only the rich could afford it. In public schools, for the most part, the first couple of years are free, usually up to grade 12, but, from then on, in order to get a higher education, the fees increase dramatically- which makes this aspect of schooling a grey area since it is both the same and different. The good schools can charge anywhere from $50,000 and higher, leaving most students in debt.
HOLIDAYS- And the Grey Areas Continue
The week was longer in Rome, a "nine day" week, and on the ninth- market day. Going to the market would excuse students from having to attend school. This is not the case in modern education. We have a seven day week, and Saturday and Sunday are the rest days- where, if we so choose, and most of us do- we can go to the grocery store. However, students also had holidays, and suring hese they didn't have to go to school either- the longest being during the hotter parts of the year. Most students wouldn't have gone anyway, since hot weather makes for slow minds and equally slow tongues.
A scenic view of popular places some families go to on holidays.
The Lesser of Two Evils- Which Is Better
Personally, I would take modern education over Roman education in a heart beat. Being a girl, I would not enjoy only having basic literate abilities; I like learning about maths and sciences and going in depth on literature and not just analyzing grammar. Also, modern education is a lot more leanient on discipline, and since I d not like to feel pain, I'd rather be in detenion than being beat, any day. School weeks were also shorter, and our modern weekend break is mich longer than the ones back then- we have Winter and Spring Break and not to mention Summer Break, too.