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Athenian system

Classical Athens (508–322 BCE)

Old Education

A view of Athens from the Temple of Olympian Zeus to Mount Lycabettus (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Old Education in classical Athens consisted of two major parts - intellectual and physical, or what was known to Athenians as “gumnastike” and “mousike.” Gumanstike was a physical education that mirrored the ideals of the military - strength, stamina, and preparation for war. Having a physically fit body was extremely important to the Athenians. Boys would begin physical education either during or just after beginning their elementary education. Initially, they would learn from a private teacher known as a paidotribe. Eventually, the boys would begin training at the gymnasium. Physical training was seen as necessary for improving one’s appearance, preparation for war, and good health at an old age. On the other hand, mousike was a combination of modern day music, dance, lyrics, and poetry. Mousike provided students with examples of beauty and nobility, as well as an appreciation of harmony and rhythm. Students would write using a stylus, with which they would etch onto a wax-covered board. When children were ready to begin reading whole works, they would often be given poetry to memorize and recite. Mythopoeic legends such as Hesoid and Homer were also highly regarded by Athenians, and their works were often incorporated into lesson plans. Old Education lacked heavy structure and only featured schooling up to the elementary level. Once a child reached adolescence his formal education ended. Therefore, a large part of this education was informal and relied on simple human experience.

Higher Education

It was not until about 420 BCE that Higher Education became prominent in Athens. The introduction of philosophers such as Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE), as well as the sophistic movement, which led to an influx of foreign teachers, created a shift from Old Education to a new Higher Education in classical Athens. This Higher Education expanded formal education in classical Athens, and Athenian society began to hold intellectual capacity with higher regard than physical. This shift caused controversy between individuals with traditional and modern views of education. Those of a traditional lens believed that raising “intellectuals” would destroy Athenian culture and leave Athens at a disadvantage in war. On the other hand, those in support of the change felt that while physical strength was important, its value in relation to Athenian power would diminish over time. These individuals believed that education should be a tool to develop the whole man, including his intellectual mind. Higher Education prevailed and an introduction of secondary and post-secondary levels of education provided greater structure and depth to the already existing Old Education (the elementary gumnastike and mousike education) framework. More focused fields of study included mathematics, astronomy, harmonics, and dialect - all with an emphasis on the development of a student's philosophical insight. It was necessary that individuals possessed the ability to take knowledge in a field and apply it towards an understanding based on logic and reason.

Isocrates sculpture located at the Parc de Versailles (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Wealth played an integral role in classical Athenian Higher Education. In fact, the amount of Higher Education an individual received often depended on the ability and desire for a family to pay for such an education. The formal programs within Higher Education were often taught by sophists who charged for their teaching. In fact, sophists would introduce their educational programs through the use of advertisements in the attempt to reach as many customers as possible. Thus, in most circumstances, only those who could afford the price could participate. Therefore, individuals within the peasant class (who lacked any capital) were financially limited in the education they could receive. Women and slaves were also barred from receiving such an education. Societal expectations isolated women to the home, while a societal belief in their intellectual ability resulted in women having little to no access to a formal education. Slaves were also prevented access to education due to their status as slaves. In fact, they were legally barred from receiving an education in Athens.

Classical Athenian Educators

Isocrates (436 - 338 BCE)

Isocrates was an influential classical Athenian orator. Growing up in Athens exposed Isocrates to educators such as Socrates and Gorgias at a young age and helped him develop exceptional rhetoric. As he grew older and his understanding of education developed, Isocrates disregarded the importance of the arts and sciences, believing rhetoric was the key to virtue. Education's purpose was to produce civic efficiency and political leadership and therefore, the ability to speak well and persuade became the cornerstone of his educational theory. However, at the time there was no definite curriculum for Higher Education, with only the existence of the sophists who were constantly traveling. In response, Isocrates founded his school of Rhetoric around 393 BCE. The school was in contrast to Plato's Academy (c. 387 BCE) which was largely based on science, philosophy, and dialectic.

Plato sculpture in the Louvre (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Plato (428 - 348 BCE)

Plato was a philosopher in classical Athens who studied under Socrates, ultimately becoming one of his most famed students. Following Socrates' execution, Plato left Athens in anger, rejecting politics as a career and traveling to Italy and Sicily. He returned ten years later to establish his school, the Academy (c. 387 BCE) - named after the Greek hero Akademos. Plato perceived education as a method to produce citizens who could operate as members of the civic community in Athens. In one sense, Plato believed Athenians could obtain education through the experiences of being a community member, but he also understood the importance of deliberate training, or Higher Education, in the development of civic virtue. Thus, his reasoning behind founding the Academy - what is often credited as the first University. It is at this school where Plato discussed much of his educational program, which he outlined in his best known work - the Republic. In his writing, Plato describes the rigorous process one must go through in order to attain true virtue, and understand reality for what it actually is. The education required of such achievement, according to Plato, included an elementary education in music, poetry, and physical training, two to three years of mandatory military training, ten years of mathematical science, five years of dialectic training, and fifteen years of practical political training. The few individuals equipped to reach such a level would become philosopher-kings, the leaders of Plato's ideal city.

Aristotle (384 - 322 BCE)

Bust of Aristotle (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Aristotle was a classical Greek philosopher. While born in Stagira, Chalkidice, Aristotle joined Plato's Academy in Athens during his late teenage years and remained for nine-teen years, withdrawing following Plato's death. His departure from the Academy also signaled his departure from Athens. Aristotle left to join Hermeias, a former student at the Academy, who had become the ruler of Atarneus and Assos in the north-western coast of Anatolia (present-day Turkey). He remained in Anatolia until, in 342 BCE, he received an invitation from King Philip of Macedon to become the educator of his thirteen-year old son Alexander. Aristotle accepted the invitation and moved to Pella to begin his work with the boy who would soon become known as Alexander the Great. When Aristotle moved back to Athens in 352 BCE, Alexander helped finance Aristotle's school - the Lyceum. A significant part of the Lyceum was research. The school had a systematic approach to the collection of information. Aristotle believed dialectical relationships among students performing research could impede the pursuit of truth. Thus, much of the school's focus was on research done empirically.