The Torch
A deep dive into classical education
Principle 7: Schole- Leisure & Contemplation
The seventh principle of classical education is an ancient Greek word scholē, which means “leisure” and the root of the English word “school”. It is a wonderful concept to explore as we put aside our books, papers, and grading for Spring Break.
Leisure in the ancient Greek and Roman world was not looked at the same way it is now, or at least in households where we may have heard, “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean!” The ancient Greeks and Romans acknowledged that in order to deeply think about a topic, one needed time and space to do so, a process that is called “contemplation”. I had a teacher once compare contemplation to digestion: I hear or read information, I ask and answer questions about it, but I do not know it fully until I have let the information settle and become part of myself.
The word contemplation has a fascinating history which I find deeply meaningful to the concept of scholē/leisure. Contemplation comes from the Latin word contemplari, a verb that means “to mark out a place for observation”. Ancient Roman priests performed a special kind of ritual called augury, where the priest drew a shape of a square in the sky with a wand or staff, and then watched for bird omens in that designated space. Just in case this sounds bizarre, you may have heard of this practice in the story of Romulus and Remus.
Romulus and Remus were the twin founders of Rome, but as brothers do in myth, they argued as to where the city of Rome should be situated. The story goes that the brothers could not resolve their argument, so they decided to consult the gods through bird omens (augury). If you look at the artwork below, you will see six vultures flying across one part of the sky for Remus, and twelve vultures flying across another part of the sky for Romulus. The act of contemplation, or marking out the place for observation, allowed the priests to interpret that the twelve vultures were a sign that the gods favored Romulus.
In order for knowledge to become a part of who we are, we must have a space marked out in our lives to spend time thinking and finding out about things. Therefore, time for contemplation is the connection between scholē/leisure and the pursuit of knowledge, and eventually to a place of learning. Our students have opportunities for scholē during times of rest, silent reflection, and curriculum that spirals year to year so that there is space to digest information and make it part of ourselves.
In my own practice, I have gained great insight from having scholē/leisure to work out a problem or digest information. Have you had an experience of gaining knowledge by marking out a space of rest in your own life for contemplation? I would love to hear your story if you would like to share.
May we take time of rest to watch the flights of birds,
Dr. Missy Johnson
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As a teacher and student of Latin and Greek, the classical model was a natural choice for me as an educator. I hold the teaching of grammar, logic, rhetoric, and virtues in high regard for learners of all ages and backgrounds. Nova Classical’s community model is inspiring, and I hope to bring thoughtfulness and openness to the Great Conversation.