A PROFITLESS PROFESSION

The Romans put a high price on education, with subjects such as rhetoric being essential for a political career, but the teachers, who were often slaves, were regarded with scorn.

Philip Matyszak

LIVING LIKE AN ANCIENT THE PLIGHT OF SCHOOLTEACHERS IN ANCIENT ROME Education in Rome was not usually supplied by the state and there was no formal qualification needed to become a teacher. In many cases the only qualification for getting the job was being able to round up enough paying pupils to make the work worthwhile. For the poorer type of schoolteacher this meant skimping on hiring a classroom by making use of the most convenient open space. The Roman poet and satirist Martial (AD 40–102) was not fond of the sound of education – he also compares the ceaseless chatter of an acquaintance as being like “the schoolmaster's curly-headed class hurrying to their morning lessons” (Epigrams 9.24). It is quite probable that the reason for his displeasure was that the…

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Ancient History (Digital) - 1 Issue, AH 49

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