Roman Education

Sherry Lynn C. Damas

Discussant
Rome
 Rome traces her beginnings to
753 B.C. and 12 centuries of history
were her destiny.
 6 century before Christ, she
expanded into a massive imperial
colossus
 In another hundred years, the
monarchy was over-thrown and
the affairs of state put under the
sovereignty of a republic.
Romans were practical, pragmatic
people who absorbed themselves in the
successful management of their
everyday affairs.
The roman language became the
instrument of commerce.
The church arose within the Roman
Empire and under the Empire, western
imperialism developed.
The History of Roman
Education
1. 753 BC – 275 BC
-(traditional founding of the city)
-Children were taught principally at
home by their parents and servants
-Schools were only on the
elementary level
2. 275 B.C – 132 B.C
- The Romans developed a literary
culture and a system of higher
education patterned after Greeks.
3. 132 B.C to 100 A.D
- Latin literature and grammar were
perfected
- Medicine and law were taught
- Architecture and oratory were
produced
- Schools were private but a
beginning was made public
subsidies to education
4. 100 A.D – 275 A.D
- law became a university subject
- medicine took form
- government increased its subsidy
for learning
5. 275 A.D – 529 A.D
- The government established a
monopoly of education.
- Teachers were required to be
licensed.
- Christianity became the official
religion of Europe
- Text-books were written
- Middle ages ushered in
 Roman Traits
1. Manliness and courage and
strength
2. Reverential regard for one’s
ancestors, divine powers and
sacred customs
Aim of Roman Education
To develop the vir bonus- (the good
citizen, the good soldier, the good
worker)
-Vir Bonus – the man possessed of all
the virtues essential for the exercise of his
rights and the discharge of his duties and
obligations
Aim
Inthe latter period of Roman
Empire, Roman education
aimed for linguistic facility and
perfection in public speaking
and debate
Orator- considered the ideally
educated man
Types of Roman Education
Practical training for the affairs
of life
Vocational education for the
masses
Intellectual training for the few
Content of Roman Education
Practical and moral in character
• Boys learned the laws of the Twelve
Tables, Roman history, the procedures
of court and the senate, conduct of
war, business, agriculture, sports and
the use of weapons.
Girls are prepared for domestic
life and religious functions
In latter Roman times:
Grammar (Literature and
Language) was chief subject
Practical Character of Roman life
was stressed while history and
geography were taught only for
functional importance
Rhetoric was emphasized (Higher
School)
Agencies and Organization
Educationin Roman life was
dominated by the family.
• Father- head and his authority
was absolute although wives
were held in high esteem
Agencies and Organization
Rome had Schools of the Greek Type
1. Elementary school- reading and
writing were taught (Ludi Magister)
2. Grammar School (Gramaticus)
3. School of Rhetoric- boys were
prepared for careers as orators
(Rhetors)
 Methods
Elementary level – memorization
and imitation
Secondary level – exercises in
literary discourses
Two of the Most Influential Teachers
and Thinkers of Roman Education

Cicero –
The Orator, believed the ability to
speak and persuade people was
greatest importance in
professional and public life.
Education should focus on the art
of leadership in public life.
Two of the Most Influential Teachers
and Thinkers of Roman Education
Quintillan
-Institutes of Oratory
-he recognized individual differences,
motivation in place of corporal
punishment.
-he considered group instruction preferable
than individual tutoring like Cicero, he
considered life’s affairs as the subject of
education
Roman educational views and
practices:
 Subsidy for teachers
 Scholarship to bright but poor youths
 Pension for retired teachers
 A salary scale for teachers
 State of control of schools and education for
women
Thank you!