Classical Studies

Introduction

Classics may be defined as the study of the civilisations of classical Greece and Rome without the study of the ancient languages Greek or Latin. While the study of any civilisation is obviously beneficial, the classical world rightly occupies an important place in the New Zealand curriculum for two compelling reasons:

The historical importance of classical civilisation in the cultural inheritance of Western Europe which is an important part of contemporary New Zealand culture. In classical Greece and Rome we find the origins of much of our art, religion, science, literature, law, philosophy and politics. Knowledge of the sources and development of a cultural tradition is essential to its continuing vitality.
The intrinsic quality and interest of the products of classical civilisation. The Greeks and Romans produced works of art, architecture, the intellect and creative imagination which are recognised to be of the very highest quality and which can still evoke a strong and enriching response in New Zealand school students.

Classical Studies is a 'multi-disciplinary' subject which includes a number of different types of study, e.g. history, art history, literature, philosophy and architecture, which are normally separated in the curriculum. Students may therefore gain experience of the connections that can exist between different intellectual disciplines.

Course of Instruction

The Form 6 course covers 5 chosen topics from the NCEA Level 2 prescription. At Form 7, the dual pathway is offered, and students may present for NCEA Level 3, or the Cambridge AS course.

The courses have been designed with the specific intention of having a natural flow from Form 6 to Form 7 Classics, although there is no requirement to study Form 6 Classics in order to study Classics at Form 7.

Level 2 NCEA

  1. Roman Social Life (external)
  2. Roman Politics (internal)
  3. Homer's Odyssey (external)
  4. The Tragedies of Sophocles (internal)
  5. Art of Pompeii and Herculaneum (external)

Level 3 NCEA

  1. Aristophanes' Comedies (external)
  2. (this will be replaced in 2009 with Juvenal's Satires)
  3. Augustus (external)
  4. Virgil's Aeneid (internal)
  5. Art and Architecture of the Roman Empire (external)

AS Classics (all externally examined)

  1. Aristophanes' Comedies
  2. Augustus
  3. Socrates
  4. Art and Architecture of the Roman Empire

Staff

Mr B Boyce (HOD) - Level 2 NCEA, AS
Mrs F Hay-Mackenzie - Level 3 NCEA
Mr J Kirby - AS
Mr D Oram - AS
Mr M Liddell - AS
Mr A Fleming - Form 3 Dean 2008