Discuss Spartan Education.

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Sparta was known as the strongest Greek city in terms of military ability. They were strong people who demanded good discipline and were action oriented. Due to this expectation Spartans encouraged health and physical fitness for both sexes. The society was divided into 3 classes;

a. Elite citizens (spartiates) these were the soldiers and government officials
b. Non citizens – people like merchants, craftsmen and peasants
c. State owned serfs. People who worked on the state land manual work of cultivating and tendering the farms.

The following points summarize the Spartan approach to education;

1. The main aim was to produce soldiers and warriors – a strong military. This education encouraged obedience and loyalty to Sparta but also aimed at developing certain virtues e.g. modesty, endurance, cunningness, strength, sociability, self control which normally go with good soldiers.

2. Literacy was not given prominence reading and writing

3. The government controlled education to ensure it served their social and military interests

4. In order to produce god fearing, moral and military socialists religion was part of everything

5. Education was to maintain the status quo

6. Rigidity strictness and severity characterized Spartan education (Spartan army swore to win or die). 300 Spartans challenged 30,000 Persians, fought and the Spartans were all killed.

7. At birth children were inspected by the state. They were then exposed to ice and snow so that weaklings could die – child exposure. The strong ones were taken back to their homes to be brought up as strong warriors.

8. At homes mothers and slaves were responsible for family education. At 8 years, boys were taken to public barracks where they were exposed to hardships and strict discipline to make them strong.

9. Both boys and girls were taught gymnastics although the girls’ training was at home. The boys got gymnastics to become strong warriors. The girls were exposed to gymnastics to produce strong warriors.

10. At 18 boys became cadet citizens (exhibitand they began professional studies in warfare. As part of their training they were whipped and flogged to make them develop endurance.

11. At 20 they were eligible for citizen clubs but it was not until 30 that they full citizens of Sparta. At 30 they were forced to marry and to continue living in communal barracks.

marto answered the question on May 17, 2019 at 06:41

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Discuss Spartan Education.

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