Rationale

Why study classical studies?

Classical studies engages the minds and imaginations of students.

Classical studies encourages students to make links between past and present civilizations, to imagine a possible future. By exploring diverse values and traditions, viewed from their own cultural perspectives and those of others, classical studies prepares students for informed and active citizenship in New Zealand and the modern world.

New Zealand continues to be influenced by the classical world.

By understanding the political, military, religious, philosophical, technological, artistic, and aesthetic developments of the ancient Greeks and Romans, students learn how the past continues to inform the present. From the rise and fall of powerful individuals and empires to the creativity and invention of artists and engineers and to the formulation of ethical systems and the evolution of social justice, students become increasingly aware of the debt owed to classical Greece and Rome.

Classical studies students learn to ask questions and challenge ideas.

Classical studies fosters thinking and inquiry skills by exploring classical sources and by debating issues within the context of the key concepts. Students not only gain an enthusiasm for classical civilizations but also learn to select, organise, and communicate information clearly and logically and to evaluate the reliability of evidence. By learning about the diverse and complex values of these societies, students develop the ability to form and reflect on their own viewpoints, respect others’ viewpoints, and make informed judgments based on critical thinking.

See also ‘skills’ in classical studies in the best evidence synthesis iteration Effective Pedagogy in Social Sciences: Tikanga ā Iwi (BES), pages 232–233.

Learning pathways in classical studies

Last updated September 12, 2017

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