Classics at Ampleforth
The modern European world is underpinned by our classical heritage: in the famous words of Isaac Newton, we stand on the shoulders of giants. Whether we consider our languages, political systems, science, art, architecture, philosophy, religion, literature or history, we find them conditioned by the experiences of the Graeco-Roman world. The study of Classics is therefore a contemporary and relevant area, because the questions posed by the Greeks and Romans are still those we ask ourselves today. Contemporary issues such as the rights and responsibilities of citizenship were hotly debated in the classical world, whilst the literature of the classical world is arguably the finest of any civilisation.
We aim to contribute to the school's mission statement in several ways: -
- The
Benedictine tradition and the life of the
Catholic Church over the centuries have always
placed great importance upon the heritage of the ancient
world. Christian civilization, in which Benedictine monasticism
played and still plays a key role, grew out of the
Graeco-Roman world and has been characterised by a
belief in the value of a liberal and humane
education. Thus we try to offer young people with
enquiring minds a map of the roots of western
civilization in which both natural learning and
Christian faith provide their own contribution.
- We endeavour to work for excellence at all times and to encourage our students to achieve their full academic potential. We think it important that students should enjoy their study of Classics because that enjoyment will contribute to effective learning.
- We hope to enable students to have as close a contact as possible with the ancient world through study of texts whether in the original languages or in translation. These texts draw their enduring appeal and relevance because they deal with the human condition in its unchanging essence and they are the foundation of western literature.
- For those studying in the original languages we hope to promote better understanding of their own language, and indeed languages in general, through contact with the formal grammars of Latin and Greek. The ingenuity and discipline of such study encourages students to approach all their work in a logical and analytical fashion and thus equips them for the world of work and aids their intellectual development.
- Thus academic rigour, linguistic skill and the development of critical insight form part of the transmission of humane values and religious faith which are outlined in the College mission statement