NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR CLASSICS
The Association for Latin Teaching The British Academy
The Classical Association The Council of University Classics Departments
Friends of Classics The Joint Association of Classical Teachers
The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

Dr PETER JONES, Spokesman
28 Akenside Terrace Jesmond Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TN
tel: 0191 281 1451 Dfax: 0870 052 3407
pvjones@friends-classics.demon.co.uk
www.friends-classics.demon.co.uk

May 16 2007

ANCIENT HISTORY RESTORED

Government orders its continuation at A-level

In a reply to a question from Lord Faulkner of Worcester about the Oxford and Cambridge Examination Board’s (OCR) decision to scrap the last remaining A-level in Ancient History, schools’ minister Lord Adonis announced this afternoon:

‘The government is not content to see the withdrawal of ancient history as a free-standing examination at A-level, and we have invited OCR and QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) to come forward with proposals for its continuance.’

The news was greeted with relief by pupils, teachers, dons and the Joint Association of Classical Teachers (JACT), which had been spear-heading the campaign for the subject’s restoration.

Tom Harrison, Professor of Ancient History at Liverpool, chairman of JACT and chief campaigner, said:
‘The response, not only from universities and schools but also from the general public, has taken our breath away in terms both of scale and conviction. JACT would like to thank all those who have lent their support. Now we look forward to working with OCR to develop new specifications, and to rebuild the cooperative relationship we enjoyed in the past’; while Robert Parker, Professor of Ancient History at Oxford, called it ‘a triumph for democracy. I am delighted that future generations of sixth-formers will continue to have the opportunity to study its origins in the ancient world.’

Jennifer Gibbon, Head of Classics at Godolphin and Latymer School, who organised Monday’s impressive demonstration against OCR’s decision outside the House of Commons, talked of the value she and her colleagues’ placed on the subject:
‘The syllabus is an inspirational route to the ancient world for those who might or might not choose to do Latin or Greek and gives students an opportunity to explore fascinating and highly relevant issues - ideas of citizenship, political spin, the development of democracy - through evaluating original source material.’

Her pupils too were equally forthcoming:
Xeres Stather, who suggested the idea of a demonstration, said: ‘If it was up to me, we’d study it much earlier. Maybe that will be my next campaign!’ Another pupil, Lucy Fraser, believes that ancient history has more of a future now than it ever had. ‘It’s one of the most exciting and inspiring subjects to be taken - and our demonstration shows just how much passion it arouses.’ Olivia Upchurch, intending to study Greats at Oxford said ‘I was shocked that this period of history, which shaped everything after it, should be valued less than modern history. We’re tired of variations on Hitler-and-Stalin or Stalin-and-Hitler. We CAME to Parliament, we SAW Boris Johnson, we CONQUERED OCR.’

MPs also expressed satisfaction that OCR had eventually seen sense, among them Boris Johnson, President of JACT who, toga-clad, received the Godolphin and Latymer petition outside the House of Commons on Monday.

Michael Fallon, the former Education Minister who led the campaign in the Commons, felt that the exam boards had been taught a lesson: ‘Vae victis! [‘Woe to the vanquished’] You can’t abolish history. I’m delighted that Ministers are finally standing up to the barbarism of the exam boards.’

Popular historians joined in the general sense of relief. The novelist (Rubicon, Persian Fire) Tom Holland thought it wonderful news, not only for teachers and students, but for everyone who cared about the cultural life of our country:
‘In classical mythology, Adonis was a symbol of life re-emerging from death. How poetic, then, that it should be Lord Adonis who has signalled the resurrection of the ancient history A level.’

Historian and TV presenter of programmes on Sparta and Helen of Troy, Bettany Hughes, did not want this generation to be remembered as one that chose to close rather than to open minds. She went on: ‘No-one should live in the past - but we certainly can’t, and shouldn’t, try to live without it. The study of the ancient world is not just fascinating, it is enlightening. When we look at the struggles, turmoil and delights of the past - without the bias of 21st century politics - we can better understand what it is to be human.’

Dr Peter Jones said:
‘We could never understand what drove OCR to take the decision in the first place. I am not surprised by the depth of feeling it aroused. Gaudeamus igitur. Then on with the job of producing a first-rate syllabus for an essential subject that takes us back to our roots.’