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Teaching & Professional Practice
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TEACHR Pedagogy: A lexical oddity
Norman Young
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Avondale College of Higher Education,
Cooranbong, NSW
Despite the games we often play with words, For ‘pedagogy’ Webster’s dictionary, without
they are seldom defined by their derivations qualification, provides “the profession or function
(etymology), more frequently their meanings of a teacher; teaching”. The same dictionary
are governed by their usage in sentences also offers “the science or art of teaching;
(semantics). Once we do that, we discover especially instruction in teaching methods”. This
that the paidag is echoed almost verbatim in the 4th edition of the
gos was not and never was a
teacher. That is why the choice of ‘pedagogy’ Macquarie Dictionary (2005). Indeed, it suggests
for the English meaning, ‘the art of teaching’, for ‘pedagogue’, “teacher of children, a school
is so odd; it’s derived from a Greek word and teacher”. The Concise Encarta (2001) reflects the
custom that had little to do with the noble art of same definitions, though it too reminds us that the
education. True, the paidag Greek paidag
gos led or followed gos was a “slave who leads a child to
his charge to school, but this was simply one of school”.
the many places to which he accompanied the Dictionaries and other educational sources
child, and such a role was hardly educational. often unpack the etymology of the word ‘pedagogy’
by pointing out that it derives from the Greek
paidag
Introduction gos, which is formed from pais (‘boy’, ‘girl’,
Most education faculties have courses with units ‘child’)4 and agein (‘to lead’, ‘to bring’). Hence, the
in pedagogy, and many even use the term itself in conclusion is usually drawn that the paidag gos led
their subject listings. Books in the field of education his charge to school. The application to the role of
frequently use ‘pedagogy’ and cognates in their the modern teacher often then proves irresistible:
titles. Avondale College of Higher Education Library that is, to define the modern Christian teacher’s
has sixty-seven books in its collection that contain task as gently leading children to understanding, or
1
the term ‘pedagogy’ or related words in their title. to wisdom, or even to Christ as per Galatians 3:24
This is a rather modest total compared with Sydney (Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
University Library and The National Library of unto Christ, KJV).5 In fact, the paidag gos, carrying
Australia, which list respectively 1,930 and 2,070 his charge’s musical instrument or texts, more often
titles. walked behind the student.
English usage The paidag
g o s
The earliest usage listed in the OED for ‘pedagogy’ To understand the role of the paidag gos in antiquity
The person is the date 1623 with the meaning ‘skoole-masters- we must examine ancient sources. The person
of the ship’.2 Even earlier, William Tyndale in 1526 rendered of the pedagogue, as opposed to his role, often
“ attracted the ridicule of the philosophical Greeks.
pedagogue the Greek text of Galatians 3:24–25 (paidag gos)
often with ‘schoolmaster’.3 This was followed by the Firstly, he was usually a household slave, generally
attracted the Authorised Version of 1611. Given the widespread foreign, and often a prisoner of war. Hieronymus,
ridicule of and prolonged use of the Authorised Version, both the Peripatetic, reportedly censured fathers for
the philo- in public and private worship, it is not surprising that placing their children into the care of barbarous
6
the Greek term paidag pedagogues.
sophical gos entered the English Since they were foreign prisoners of
Greeks language as ‘pedagogue’, or ‘pedagogy’ with the war, the pedagogues gave their admonitions in poor
meaning ‘schoolmaster’. Greek, which was derided by those who had Greek
Webster’s 2nd as their mother tongue, and that no doubt included
edition of 1968, though giving ‘a
7
teacher’ for the word ‘pedagogue’, adds an historical the children in their care. Because the younger and
”
note. stronger slaves were more productively used for
Among the ancient Greeks and Romans, [the manual labour, the pedagogues were frequently old
paidag g o s was] a slave who attended the children (by no means always) or damaged. The numerous
of his master and conducted them to school, often terracotta figurines of a pedagogue are usually
acting as a tutor. grumpy-looking old men.
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When Pericles once saw a household slave fall The paidag gos as a disciplinarian
from an olive tree and break his leg, he cynically The paidag gos was type-cast on the stage in
commented, “a new pedagogue has just appeared”.8 general as a strict killjoy. Whilst, some paidag goi
Hieronymus complained that Greek fathers gave the were gentle with their charges (like Mary Poppins),
most important task—the training of their sons— others were severe and cruel. They pinched and The many
to the least costly (that is, old or injured slaves).9 threatened, shouted and ranted, and cuffed and headstone
19 “
Plutarch regarded as stupid the Greek custom of caned. “Your anger hardly leaves off the cane”, inscriptions
appointing the most talented slaves to positions such 20
complained Martial of his paidag gos. Libanius that praise
as stewards and money managers, while leaving likened the pounding of a boat’s oars on the sea to and identify
their sons to the oversight of the wine-bibber, the the paidag 21
gos’ lash on a boy’s back. Claudius’ a man’s
10
glutton and the most useless slave. Of course, not paidag gos was a former muleteer, who was former
all paidag goi (plural) were of this character, but appointed expressly to administer punishment. His paidag gos
many were and thus were not the best model for the former trade eminently qualified him for his latter role, indicate that
modern teacher of children. since he was adept with the whip. Indeed, the leather neither their
Four aspects of the ancient paidag strap was a standard accessory for the paidag 22
gos will goi. names nor
be explored in this discussion. After noting the Libanius confesses to having a dread of the the early
temporary nature of the role of the paidag
gos, this paidag goi’s strap, and Theodoret of Cyrrhus, a affection
paper will discuss the role of the paidag gos as a Father of the early church, noted that “students was
are scared of their paidag 23
disciplinarian, a protector and an educator. goi”. Quintilian’s frank forgotten
admission is understandable.
The temporary nature of the role of the I blush to mention the shameful abuse which
paidag gos scoundrels [that is, the paidag goi] sometimes ”
When the boy was about six or seven years of age, make of their right to administer corporal
or when he had some understanding of speech, punishment.24
the paidag
gos took over the care of him from the
11
nurse. He remained in the paidag gos’ care until A popular disciplinary technique with the
12 25
just after late puberty. Thus, the boy was in the care paidag goi was to twist the boy’s ear. Photo 1
of his twenty-four-hour minder for approximately depicts an angry paidag gos ready to punish a
twelve years. Hence, when the paidag
gos, naughty boy, who is running away on the other side
Charidemus, tried to control the youthful Martial, of the vase.
the latter asserted his independence by boasting As the boy entered puberty, curtailment of
of the growth of his beard and his prowess with his youthful hormones was also part of the paidag
gos’
13
mistress. When Socrates found it puzzling how task: “You don’t allow me to frolic, nor do you allow
me to woo”, lamented Martial to his paidag 26
the youthful Lysis, though heir of all, could still be gos.
under the control of his paidag
gos, a slave, Lysis When accosted by an irate father concerning his
14 son’s wanton behaviour, the philosopher protested
explained, “I have not yet come of age.” Once of
that he was not the lad’s paidag 27
age, the lad was free of his paidag gos. gos. Physical
Xenophon expresses the nature of the transition. punishment was commonplace in the classical
world, and the paidag
When a boy ceases to be a child, and begins to be goi were not the only ancient
a lad, others release him from his paidag g o n and disciplinarians: nurses, teachers, trainers and even
from his teacher; he is then no longer under them, fathers meted out corrective force on their charges.
15
but is allowed to go his own way.
If one was an eph bos (a youth), one was no longer
under the control of a paidag gos, whose charges Photo 1
16
were babes (n pioi) and boys (paides). It was a
common jibe, if one wished to ridicule someone’s [Photograph:
maturity, to accuse them of still being under the care Norman Young;
of a paidag 17 Reproduced
gos. Ideally, the transition to manhood
involved the recasting of the controlling principle; a courtesy of the
hired slave (paidag Soprintendenza
gos) is replaced by reason, the
18 Archeologia della
divine guide (theion h gemona).
The paidag gos thus had clearly defined limits Puglia, Taranto,
regarding the duration of his control of the child, to Museo Nazionale,
that degree, he was similar to today’s teachers. Bari]
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It is not that long ago that many schoolteachers tended his charge more tenderly than the mother;
followed the paidag gos’ pattern of discipline. I can and if the child died, he mourned more genuinely
recall the names of some very brutal teachers in my than the dutiful parents.31 On reaching adulthood,
time as a student. Thankfully, discipline measures it was common for men to emancipate their former
have changed in most western countries. However, paidag
gos.
as it was with the paidag
gos, today’s teachers are Whilst some paidag goi were harsh and punitive,
This aspect expected to act as disciplinarians. others were gentle with and devoted to their charges.
This aspect of the paidag
of the gos, the duty of care, is
“
paidag gos, The paidag gos as a protector one worthy for modern teachers to emulate.
the duty Cicero points out that the first persons a man loves
28
of care, is are his nurse and his paidag gos. The paidag gos The paidag gos as an educator
one worthy often took the blame for some childish misdemeanour Although some children were fortunate that the slave
for modern so as to spare the child any parental punishment. The appointed as their paidag gos was well educated,
teachers to many headstone inscriptions that praise and identify this was more often by chance than parental design.
a man’s former paidag However, Roman fathers did try to obtain a Greek
emulate gos indicate that neither their
speaker for their son’s paidag
names nor the early affection was forgotten. Given gos. Even though
the widespread pederasty of the classical world, the they assisted the child with any homework (see
paidag Photo 4) and sat in on the teacher’s lessons (see
” goi acted as a fortified wall or guard that
Photo 5), the paidag
protected the child from such abuse. The paidag goi gos’ instruction was mostly
29
were as “barking dogs to wolves”. Hence, they limited to social trivia.
accompanied their charges to the athletic field, the
theatre, the courts, and to school or lectures (see And yet what do the paidag goi teach? To walk in
Photos 2 & 3). They were twenty-four-hour minders; the public streets with lowered head; to touch salt-
even from bedtime to rising at dawn, the attendant fish with but one finger, but fresh fish, bread, and
meat with two; to sit in such and such a posture; in
slave was always present. 32
Photo 2 It was not unknown for the paidag gos to die such and such a way to wear their cloaks.
in defence of his charge. Appian tells the touching Aristides provides a verbatim catalogue of the
account of how a paidag
[Photograph: gos threw his arms around paidag gos’ chidings.
Norman Young; his orphaned charge and would not release him to ‘It is not proper to stuff yourself full’, and ‘walk on
Reproduced his would-be murderers. This occurred en route the street in a seemly way, and rise for your elders,
courtesy of to school and both were killed.30
Libanius praised love your parents, do not be noisy, or play dice, or’
the Hermitage the paidag gos as the most devoted of all a child’s ‘cross your legs’.33
Museum, influences: he supervised the child’s studies more
Leningrad] constantly than either the father or teacher; when Seneca’s report of a paidag gos’ advice is in the
the child became sick, he acted as a nurse and same vein: “Walk thus and so; eat thus and so, this
Photo 3
Heracles being
followed by
his nurse,
Geropso, as his
pedagogue.
[Photograph:
Norman Young;
Reproduced
courtesy of the
Staatliches
Museum,
Schwerin]
2 3
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10
is conduct proper for a man and that for a woman; Plutarch, Mor. 4B; Julian, Mis. 352C.
34 11
this for a married man and that for a bachelor.” Plato, Prot. 325C.
12 Teles ap.Stobaeus, Flor. 72 (Wachsmuth 5.848F).
As apposed to the limited educational role of
13
the paidag gos, today’s teachers aim to develop Martial, 11.39.
14
the whole person (mentally, physically, emotionally, Plato, Lys. 209A.
15 Lac. 3.1. Cf. Plutarch, Phil. 4.1.
socially and spiritually).
16
Plato, Laws 808E; Ps.Plato, Axioch. 366D–367A; Teles, ap.
Conclusion Stobaeus, Flor. 72 (Wachsmuth 5.848F). For boys seventeen was
What relevance does the ancient role of the usually considered the age of puberty, and thirteen for girls.
17 Lucian, Jup. Trag. 29.5; Philo, Flacc. 15; Gaium, 26.
paidag gos have for twenty-first century teachers?
18 Plutarch, Mor. 37D–E; Philo, Quod Det. 146.
The teacher, like the paidag gos, has a temporary
19
Quintilian, 6.1.41; Plato, Lys. 223A; Libanius, Ep. 139.2.
role. The lessons learned in school must nurture 20
11.39.
the child towards independence and the love of 21 Ep. 1188.3–4.
learning. Most importantly, as teachers fulfil their 22
Diogenes, Ep. 29; Libanius, Or. 2.380 (Behr), 58.9.
duty of care, they must have a purposeful intention to 23
Libanius, Ep. 911.2; Theodoret, Ep. 36.
foster schools as safe places for children. Teachers 24
are called to be protectors of children. In addition, Quintilian, 1.3.17 (Loeb).
25
There is a terracotta image of a paidag gos from Myrina doing just this
paidag (C. Daremberg and E. Saglio [eds], Dictionaire des Antiquités Grecques
goi were sometimes likened to shepherds
or a ship’s pilot because of their role in guiding the et Romaines IV / 1, 1907. Reprinted Graz: Akademischen Druck und
children. In a society where many are looking for Verlagsanhalt, 1969) IV.272, figure 5449. See also Plutarch, Cat. Mal. 20.4.
26
direction, teachers can perform this vital role. 11.39.
TEACH 27
Lucian, Herm. 82.
28
Cicero, De Amic. 20.74.
Endnotes 29
Libanius, Or. 58.7.
1 30
This includes variant forms such as ‘pedagogical’. Appian, BCiv, 5.30.
2 31
The OED also gives a reference from 1583 meaning ‘instruction’, ‘discipline’. Libanius, Or. 58.8–11.
3 32
This is retained in the editions of 1534 and 1536. Plutarch, Mor. 439F–440 (Loeb).
4 The stem of the noun pais is paid; the dental ‘d’ is dropped when 33
Aristides, Or. 2.380 (Loeb). Cf. Xenophon, Lac. 3.2f.
the nominative singular ‘s’ is added. 34
5 This is an inaccurate translation in two serious ways: Seneca, Ep. 94.8–9 (Loeb).
“Schoolmaster” should read “slave child-minder,” and “to bring us Photo 4
unto Christ” should be rendered “until the time of Christ.”
6
ap. Stobaeus, Ecl. 121 (Wachsmuth 2.233).
7 Aristides, Or. 2.380 (Behr); Plato, Lys. 223A. [Photograph:
8 ap. Stobaeus, Ecl. 121 (Wachsmuth 2.233). Norman Young;
9 Reproduced
Ibid.
courtesy of The
Trustees of the
British Museum,
London]
Photo 5
[Photograph:
Norman Young;
Reproduced
courtesy of the
Staatliche Museen
Preussischer
Kulturbesitz, Berlin
(West)]
4 5
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