There were two main methods of education in Ancient Rome; either the child would have a private tutor or attend a sort of public school.
Private Tutors
But private tutors could be expensive so most families simply sent their children to schools.
Private Tutors
- Slaves bought by family
- Freedmen/ free men hired by family
- Ex: Cicero hired a Greek named Tyrannio for his son and nephew
But private tutors could be expensive so most families simply sent their children to schools.
Schools were privately financed and unregulated in terms of who could become a teacher and how much they could charge parents for tuition. Since there was no regulation some schools were really sketchy and.
These schools followed a basic curriculum consisting of three levels.
Schoolteacher hours began before dawn and then ended around noon. Many teachers would work outdoors in piazzas or on sidewalks so meeting early meant at least starting lessons with less noise, fewer crowds, and distractions. One of the largest challenges with outdoor teaching was the weather. Some teachers were able to rent room space in a market or apartment but even that was met with challenges from other tenants. Student would bring candles for the morning and reusable wax tablets to work on their writing and math skills. The tablets would later be melted down in order to reuse again the next day.
Because of the informal setting and unrequired education it was perfectly normal for children to come and go as they needed to. Some parents would send a slave with their children in order to ensure that they behaved.
At age 10-11 some boys went one to study grammaticus, but many boys from poor families would go on to begin working as apprentices. Girls on the other hand would begin preparing for marriage and childbearing responsibilities.
2. Grammaticus
3. The Rhetoric
Other aspects of schooling:
Corporal punishment was considered a completely normal practice regardless of the teacher's social standing in regards to his students. Even so, there was some critique that any harm done to anyone who isn't a slave is undeserving.
I do not agree that students should be flogged. First, because flogging is disgraceful and is therefore suitable only for slaves and is certainly an insult, a fact which is indisputable if you substitute an older age group. Second, because if a boy has a disposition so intractable that he cannot be corrected by scolding, he will become hardnened even to your blows, just as the worst slaves are. (Quintilian, The Elements of Oratory)
These schools followed a basic curriculum consisting of three levels.
- Ludus (Lowest level)
Schoolteacher hours began before dawn and then ended around noon. Many teachers would work outdoors in piazzas or on sidewalks so meeting early meant at least starting lessons with less noise, fewer crowds, and distractions. One of the largest challenges with outdoor teaching was the weather. Some teachers were able to rent room space in a market or apartment but even that was met with challenges from other tenants. Student would bring candles for the morning and reusable wax tablets to work on their writing and math skills. The tablets would later be melted down in order to reuse again the next day.
Because of the informal setting and unrequired education it was perfectly normal for children to come and go as they needed to. Some parents would send a slave with their children in order to ensure that they behaved.
At age 10-11 some boys went one to study grammaticus, but many boys from poor families would go on to begin working as apprentices. Girls on the other hand would begin preparing for marriage and childbearing responsibilities.
2. Grammaticus
- 11-14 year-old boys
- Refined boys' style of writing and speaking
- Analyze poetry
- Learn Greek
- knowing Greek was considered a sign of a cultured and educated man since the influence and love of all things Greek in Roman society was so prevalent.
3. The Rhetoric
- 14-15 year-old boys
- Study for careers in public speaking, politics and law
Other aspects of schooling:
Corporal punishment was considered a completely normal practice regardless of the teacher's social standing in regards to his students. Even so, there was some critique that any harm done to anyone who isn't a slave is undeserving.
I do not agree that students should be flogged. First, because flogging is disgraceful and is therefore suitable only for slaves and is certainly an insult, a fact which is indisputable if you substitute an older age group. Second, because if a boy has a disposition so intractable that he cannot be corrected by scolding, he will become hardnened even to your blows, just as the worst slaves are. (Quintilian, The Elements of Oratory)