Can Bringing Classics to the Public Promote Equality and New Perspectives? Savannah Bornheim

Classics, often associated with the elite, is a subject that has traditionally been inaccessible to many. But with stronger public engagement, we can change that narrative.

Who Even Knows What Classics Is?

Even the name ‘Classics’ is exclusionary. I often get asked ‘So,...What exactly is Classics?’ Classics is considered the study of ancient Mediterranean civilizations, including their languages, cultures, histories, philosophies, material cultures, and more.

A blog post by The British Academy addressing the question starts with the sentence “‘Classics’ is the name given to the study of ancient Greeks and Romans.” It is an informative post, but falls into the unfortunately common definition that only includes Greek and Romans rather than extending the subject to more ancient civilizations like the Mycenaeans, Egyptians, and Persians. The lack of awareness of other groups of people in the subject adds to the elitist and exclusive feel of the subject.

A History of Limited Access

In Medieval Europe, only the elite learned Latin and Greek. Common people attending their religious services did not understand the Latin spoken there and were not expected to. They were told to trust their clergy to interpret the Bible for them. This is a glaring example of the way the Latin language has been used by the elites to show their superiority.

The Renaissance is considered the rebirth of Latin and Greek in Europe, but the new knowledge and ways of thinking associated with the Renaissance were still limited to the educated upper-class.

It is still rare for Latin and Classics to be taught in state schools. A British Council Survey showed that only 2.7% of state schools taught Latin at key stage 3. This is drastically lower than the 49% of independent schools teaching it. It is still an uphill battle as funding was pulled mid-year from the recently established Latin Excellence Programme which helped bring Latin education to 40 state schools and hundreds of students.

Public Engagement: How It Brings Classics to the Masses

Strong public engagement initiatives are the first step towards making the subject available to all. People need to know that Classics is something they can pursue further. Having information and events publicized and free to all allows anyone who is passionate or curious about ancient civilizations to enjoy the subject

Universities and scholars partnering with schools and the government to promote Classics in all schools will help bridge the divide in availability between state and private schools.

Engagement with young children outside of schools is important; this can come in the form of museums, events, social media, books, and film. Having engagement efforts separate from school allows more people to be involved and doesn’t limit outreach to certain schools.

Adults who did not have the opportunity to study Classics in schools should also have the opportunity to learn about Classics. Public lectures tailored to a general audience are great ways to draw adults of all ages closer to Classics.

Additionally, through general public engagement, we can diminish the elitist feel of Classics. This in turn may help more students view Classics without preconceived notions of class or needing to fit in. Public engagement increases the number of people who know about Classics immediately while creating a future where even more people will be exposed to it.

The Importance of Equality in Education

Public engagement leads to greater equality in education. If we make Classics more accessible to all, we can empower individuals from all walks of life to pursue education without barriers—ensuring that future generations can explore the ideas that have shaped our world.

Engaging with a broader audience creates room for diverse perspectives, allowing for a richer, more nuanced understanding of the ancient world. Thus, making access to Classics equal benefits everyone, including those who already have access to Classics.

When all children have equal access to subjects like Classics—once reserved for the elite—it sends a powerful message that knowledge, and the opportunities it provides, should be available to everyone, regardless of background. Access to Classics and equal education can raise students’ aspirations and encourage them to pursue higher education.

Perspectives: How Classics Can Apply to Modern Day Issues

It is always important to learn from history, but more than just the history of ancient civilizations can be useful for the modern world. The philosophy and governments of the ancient world play a large role in our society. Being informed about the origins of these concepts can help you form your own opinions on them.

Learning Latin and studying classical works has personally helped me a lot with attention to detail and context when reading. I learned to look at how a singular word can completely change the meaning or undertones of a sentence.

I learned to critically evaluate the sources we are given. Just because Herodotus is the ‘Father of History’ does not mean we should believe everything he wrote. After all, he is also known as the ‘Father of Lies’. But this does not mean we should disregard him completely.

Being guided through the intricacies of attempting to discern fact from fiction of ancient authors has given me the skills to do this with modern writing and media. I know to look at context, bias, and motivation to gain insight. Teachers did not tell me what to believe, but how to critically come to my own conclusions. This is a crucial skill for navigating the modern world and the study of Classics provides the perfect platform.

I had a professor teach Plutarch’s Lives. We spent most of the time applying their lives to philosophy, moral conundrums, and modern issues. He would ask a question and go around the room for every single person to provide a simple answer, no sitting on the fence or qualifying your answer. We tackled questions including:

Would you rather live under tyranny or die fighting for your freedom? Would you rather be the oppressor or oppressed? Is it better for a leader to be popular or strong?

This was one of the most influential classes I have taken and it forced me to contemplate the world around me and my personal values and opinions.

For me, studying Classics has been extremely applicable to many aspects of modern life. I want everyone to be able to experience this. The more people that can have positive experiences engaging with or studying Classics, the better society is.

References and Further Readings

What is Classics blog post: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/what-is-classics/

Overview of Greek knowledge in Medieval Europe: https://brewminate.com/knowledge-of-greek-in-the-medieval-latin-west/

Accessibility of Classics and Impacts on Social Change: https://impact.ed.ac.uk/inspiring-minds/why-we-need-to-talk-about-class-in-classics/

Classics in State Schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-students-to-learn-ancient-and-modern-languages

Funding Pulled from Latin Excellence Programme: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/poorest-pupils-will-be-hit-hardest-heads-lament-latin-scheme-axe/

Classics For All (Why Classics): https://classicsforall.org.uk/what-we-do/why-classics (I recommend exploring other pages of this website as well)

Understanding Ancient Historians: https://qcurtius.com/2024/02/10/some-points-on-reading-and-understanding-the-ancient-historians/

Images

Classical Studies definition: https://www.degreequery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/classics1-1024x512.png

Children at Lunt: https://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-gatehouse-at-Lunt-Roman-Fort.-Please-credit-Lunt-Roman-Fort-Coventry-651x434.jpg

Pieter Paul Rubens, Justus Lipsius and his students: https://bonaelitterae.wordpress.com/2013/06/16/rubens-justus-lipsius-and-the-significance-of-books/

Graduation: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/congregation/ceremonies/ontheday/pm/lining-up-graduation.jpg

The Ancient Guide to Modern Life: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348525038i/9687312.jpg (I have not actually read this book but the title seems incredibly fitting so I may have to)