[Usyd_Classics_Events] Reminder: USYD Classics Research Seminar: Aug 15, Prof. Steven Hunt

[Ben Brown]

Dear Friends of Classics and Ancient History,
You are cordially invited to the second Classics and Ancient History research seminar of semester 2, 2024.

*NB: Please note the change in usual venue: School of Humanities Common Room  (Room 822, Level 8, Mungo MacCallum Building)
August 15, 4pm AEST (UTC+10)
School of Humanities Common Room (Room 822, Level 8, Mungo MacCallum Building) and
Zoom: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/82326237855)
Steven Hunt (University of Cambridge)
Classics Revival in the UK—carpe diem!
Abstract:
>From about 2014 the four regions of the British government have undertaken reviews of each of the education systems under their responsibility. While Scotland and Wales have widely consulted stakeholders and have taken more skills-based and cross-disciplinary approaches, England went for a more traditional model, with a strong emphasis on disciplinary knowledge with school seen as preparation for university scholarship. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that Latin and Classical Studies more widely fitted the English Government’s worldview and received more support and attention than at any time since the mid 1970s. This support has come at a cost, however: a preference for a defined pedagogical approach, a stilted understanding of what ‘The Classics’ is, and a traditionalist and outdated view of how and what it is being taught today in schools and universities. The subject community, teachers and educationalists were originally excluded from the early discussions of what a classics curriculum might look like ‘for everyone’. It is only now, with a new and possibly less enthusiastic (towards Classics) Labour government that the subject community has drawn together more effectively to influence any forthcoming decisions on education policy matters.

This paper will briefly review the current situation and explore the important parts played ‘behind the scenes’ by the subject community, the charity Classics for All, and others in developing Classics for every pupil in the British education system. In it, I hope to point out what has and hasn’t ‘worked’ (which might be beneficial for others in a similar position) and what we in British schools have in mind for the future.

Biography:
Steven Hunt is Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Cambridge. After completing his PGCE Steve taught Classics for twenty years in comprehensive schools in Greater and Inner London and in rural Hertfordshire. Specialising in Latin, he also taught Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History from GCSE to A-level. For eight years he was a mentor for the PGCE in Classics at Cambridge, and he became the course leader in 2008. His recent books include Hunt, S. and Bulwer, J. (forthcoming 2024). Classics in Schools Worldwide: an international survey. (London, Bloomsbury), Hunt, S. (2023). Starting to Teach Latin. 2nd edition. (London, Bloomsbury) and Hunt, S. (2022). Teaching Latin; contexts, theories and practices. (London, Bloomsbury).
Papers this semester will be presented on campus live streamed via Zoom (unless otherwise indicated). The on-campus location will either be the V. Gordon Childe Centre Boardroom, Level 4, Madsen Building, or the School of Humanities Common Room (Room 822, Mungo MacCallum Building).
The Zoom address for this and all sessions during semester 2 is: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/82326237855
For further information, email: benjamin.brown at sydney.edu.au
All best, Ben
DR BEN BROWN
Senior Lecturer, Classics and Ancient History
Honours Coordinator, School of Humanities (SoH)
Co-director Critical Antiquities Network
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY NSW 2006
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20240811/0f047b93/attachment.htm>