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Classical language lessons: the Coalition's latest nostalgic fantasy Classical language lessons: the Coalition's latest nostalgic fantasy
(2 months later)
Christopher Pyne's announcement that the ancient languages of Latin and classical Greek are to be returned to the Australian secondary school syllabus – with a funding injection from the Coalition – is yet another revealing example of how this government defers policy to its cultural tastes.Christopher Pyne's announcement that the ancient languages of Latin and classical Greek are to be returned to the Australian secondary school syllabus – with a funding injection from the Coalition – is yet another revealing example of how this government defers policy to its cultural tastes.
Parents' groups may have condemned Pyne's decision as "patently absurd", but there's nothing wrong in principle with studying Latin or Greek. While actual living speakers of Latin disproportionately inhabit the Vatican and a few corners of academic life, it's claimed that over 60% of words in English rely on the two ancient languages at root. A casual tour through the vocabularies of science, technology or medicine, or the terminology of western law, shows how profoundly indebted we are to these "dead" languages.Parents' groups may have condemned Pyne's decision as "patently absurd", but there's nothing wrong in principle with studying Latin or Greek. While actual living speakers of Latin disproportionately inhabit the Vatican and a few corners of academic life, it's claimed that over 60% of words in English rely on the two ancient languages at root. A casual tour through the vocabularies of science, technology or medicine, or the terminology of western law, shows how profoundly indebted we are to these "dead" languages.
Beyond the value of knowledge for its own sake, enhancing the breadth of one's vocabulary with an understanding of the classical languages that inform it is a powerful discursive weapon. As the novelist Joseph Conrad observed, "[he] who wants to persuade should put [his] trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense".Beyond the value of knowledge for its own sake, enhancing the breadth of one's vocabulary with an understanding of the classical languages that inform it is a powerful discursive weapon. As the novelist Joseph Conrad observed, "[he] who wants to persuade should put [his] trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense".
Similarly, Margaret Thatcher's nemesis, union leader Arthur Scargill, famously recalled that, "My father still reads the dictionary every day. He says your life depends on your power to master words".Similarly, Margaret Thatcher's nemesis, union leader Arthur Scargill, famously recalled that, "My father still reads the dictionary every day. He says your life depends on your power to master words".
There's tangible proof that the Coalition have been heeding Conrad's advice to put words first, with the creation of a "debt repair levy" to obscure the plain word "tax" (itself from the Latin taxare, to "evaluate, estimate, assess, handle"). Nevertheless, one imagines that the intellectual enfranchisement of future trade union leaders is not what they have in mind. There's tangible proof that the Coalition have been heeding Conrad's advice to put words first, with the creation of a "debt repair levy" to obscure the plain word "tax" (itself from the Latin taxare, to "evaluate, estimate, assess, handle"). Nevertheless, one imagines that the intellectual enfranchisement of future trade union leaders is not what they have in mind.
As Pyne's a member of a government that has axed a science minister, much of the CSIRO's funding, and introduced university fee increases proven to actively dissuade students from science study, it's hard to believe they've set out to furnish the lexicographical confidence of aspiring scientists (from the Latin scientia meaning "knowledge", from sciens, to "know"), either.As Pyne's a member of a government that has axed a science minister, much of the CSIRO's funding, and introduced university fee increases proven to actively dissuade students from science study, it's hard to believe they've set out to furnish the lexicographical confidence of aspiring scientists (from the Latin scientia meaning "knowledge", from sciens, to "know"), either.
This is not a government that in word or deed demonstrates a desire for the citizenry to know very much at all. Just try asking Scott Morrison.This is not a government that in word or deed demonstrates a desire for the citizenry to know very much at all. Just try asking Scott Morrison.
What the education minister forgets is that classical languages disappeared from the syllabus because they are onerous to learn and time-consuming to teach, especially within a modern learning program that that demands more of students than old-fashioned, all-day grammar drills.What the education minister forgets is that classical languages disappeared from the syllabus because they are onerous to learn and time-consuming to teach, especially within a modern learning program that that demands more of students than old-fashioned, all-day grammar drills.
But that doesn't matter to Pyne, who justifies the return of classical languages to the syllabus on the basis of their "historically significant" status. This in itself is a good example of Conrad's precept, regarding the power of word choice to persuade. Pyne's move has far less to do with the appreciation of classical civilisation, than how that history is significant to the contemporary conservative culture of which the Abbott government is a part. But that doesn't matter to Pyne, who justifies the return of classical languages to the syllabus on the basis of their "historically significant" status. This in itself is a good example of Conrad's precept, regarding the power of word choice to persuade. Pyne's move has far less to do with the appreciation of classical civilisation, than how that history is significant to the contemporary conservative culture of which the Abbott government is a part.
The nostalgic, elitist fantasy Pyne shares with his conservative confreres posits the classically-taught as the rightful inheritors of western civilisation. Latin and Greek are the linguistic regalia of entitlement. Never mind the so-called budget crisis; there will always be $1.8m to pay for the cultural politics of conservative education activists.The nostalgic, elitist fantasy Pyne shares with his conservative confreres posits the classically-taught as the rightful inheritors of western civilisation. Latin and Greek are the linguistic regalia of entitlement. Never mind the so-called budget crisis; there will always be $1.8m to pay for the cultural politics of conservative education activists.
The dead giveaway is Pyne's own appointment of conservative apologist Kevin Donnelly as a "special education adviser". It was only in January that Donnelly - the former chief-of-staff to Kevin Andrews - was quoted in The Australian describing how our current education system is "undervaluing the contribution of Western civilisation". Pyne himself is on record with concerns that "Western civilisation did not get enough attention" in the syllabus.The dead giveaway is Pyne's own appointment of conservative apologist Kevin Donnelly as a "special education adviser". It was only in January that Donnelly - the former chief-of-staff to Kevin Andrews - was quoted in The Australian describing how our current education system is "undervaluing the contribution of Western civilisation". Pyne himself is on record with concerns that "Western civilisation did not get enough attention" in the syllabus.
Will a similar attention be paid to the critical understanding of how the languages of ancient empires perhaps inform the contemporary western inheritance of imperialism and colonialism? I doubt it. The architects of modern conservative thought – from the Enlightenment to the present – have values canonically informed by colonialism and empire. They cannot support the teaching of a critical perspective without undermining their own project.Will a similar attention be paid to the critical understanding of how the languages of ancient empires perhaps inform the contemporary western inheritance of imperialism and colonialism? I doubt it. The architects of modern conservative thought – from the Enlightenment to the present – have values canonically informed by colonialism and empire. They cannot support the teaching of a critical perspective without undermining their own project.
At the same time, Latin and Greek are a means of demarcating privilege, through a shared language of educational exclusivity; matriculation passes in classical languages were prerequisites that policed entry into medicine and law degrees in many places until the 1960s. In this context, when conservatives advocate for the return of Latin and Greek, they are also, in part, expressing their desire for the reestablishment of these old class advantages.At the same time, Latin and Greek are a means of demarcating privilege, through a shared language of educational exclusivity; matriculation passes in classical languages were prerequisites that policed entry into medicine and law degrees in many places until the 1960s. In this context, when conservatives advocate for the return of Latin and Greek, they are also, in part, expressing their desire for the reestablishment of these old class advantages.
Pyne isn't alone, either. Michael Gove, the conservative education minister in the United Kingdom, has a stated mission to make state schools in Britain more like the famously conservative private schools that have educated its ruling class for generations. On his agenda: the introduction to the state school syllabus of Latin and Greek.Pyne isn't alone, either. Michael Gove, the conservative education minister in the United Kingdom, has a stated mission to make state schools in Britain more like the famously conservative private schools that have educated its ruling class for generations. On his agenda: the introduction to the state school syllabus of Latin and Greek.
One need only consider the exhortations of The Cincinnati Western Review, an American newspaper, to understand the "historical significance" to conservatives of protecting their own syllabic canon. As its editors opined:One need only consider the exhortations of The Cincinnati Western Review, an American newspaper, to understand the "historical significance" to conservatives of protecting their own syllabic canon. As its editors opined:
Should the time ever come when Latin and Greek should be ... considered as unnecessary for the formation of a scholar, we should regard [mankind] as fast sinking into an absolute barbarism, and the doom of mental darkness is likely to increase until it should become universalShould the time ever come when Latin and Greek should be ... considered as unnecessary for the formation of a scholar, we should regard [mankind] as fast sinking into an absolute barbarism, and the doom of mental darkness is likely to increase until it should become universal
That was in 1822.That was in 1822.
Optimists might think that the restoration of Latin and Greek teaching will equip students with a rigorous means of historical and linguistic engagement, beyond Pyne's a falsis principiis proficisci intentions. Those who note that his inclusion in a government which, alone in the west, has jettisoned the word "occupied" to describe the status of East Jerusalem – on the basis that this word refers to "historical events" of a mere 47 years ago – may not be so easily persuaded.Optimists might think that the restoration of Latin and Greek teaching will equip students with a rigorous means of historical and linguistic engagement, beyond Pyne's a falsis principiis proficisci intentions. Those who note that his inclusion in a government which, alone in the west, has jettisoned the word "occupied" to describe the status of East Jerusalem – on the basis that this word refers to "historical events" of a mere 47 years ago – may not be so easily persuaded.