Nathalie Roy (Glasgow Middle School)
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need for classics teacher training in outreach and recruitment which aligns with current societal interest in STEM and mythology. In the 2010 version of Standards for Latin Teacher Preparation, Section 3 states that beginning Latin teachers should “make their programs and the excitement of classical antiquity known to a wider community beyond the classroom.” In classics in particular, this area of training needs emphasis due to dwindling numbers of students studying classics at every level. These dwindling numbers may point to another area of emphasis in teacher training: recruitment of students.
This paper will focus on two popular educational trends that intersect with classics and could serve as effective hooks to spark interest in classics, both in general-public outreach events or more focused recruitment efforts within schools.
1. The STEM* trend in K-12 education shows no sign of slowing down. Although some classics teachers view STEM as a competitive nuisance, it can easily intersect with classical studies to the benefit of both disciplines. Classical STEM lessons can focus on all areas of the STEM acronym: the science of the fullery, the technology of the Roman hypocaust, the engineering of aqueducts, and the mathematics of land surveying with a groma. STEM challenges might include building a small catapult or designing a mosaic. In my class dedicated to Roman technology, these activities serve as a strong advertisement for the study of classics at outreach events and as recruitment within the school district.
*STEM is an educational acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. In K-12 education, STEM classes focus on the engineering design process in which students learn to construct solutions to problems or “challenges” using skills such as creative thinking, collaboration, and decision making.
2. Greek and Roman mythology has also enjoyed a lasting popularity. The Lightning Thief, the first in the Percy Jackson series of books by Rick Riordan, is almost 20 years old, yet young students cite it regularly as the reason they are interested in the classics. March of 2022 saw the publication of George O’Connor’s last book in the Olympians series of graphic novels. They are some of the most often checked out books at school libraries. Mythology continues to draw young students to classics; thus, teachers need to capitalize on this fact by offering mythology-inspired classes and experiences.
For too long, classics has been hyper-focused on language instruction. Pushing the boundaries of what constitutes the field of classics can draw more students to our field.