Quotation of the Week 21
“Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run.” Marc Twain, A Curious Dream, 1972 »
constantinakatsari's Posts
Ancient History Competition 27
Manolis is back! “I prefer ruling the people who have gold instead of owning it myself”. This is the answer this frugal consul gave to the foreign ambassadors who tried to bribe him. Who was he? »
The End of the Semester
The external examiners left the city, the grades were handed out to the students, most of the administration has been done and dusted! So, what is left? The ordeal left me with mental fatigue, a sense of emptiness and a fuzzy brain. The terminology may not be accurate but the feeling is very real and it alters my plans. A few days ago I thought that this weekend will be the start of my research life. I was planning to finish the article I started months ago, I was hoping to visit a library and i... »
Ancient History Competition 26
Since Manolis forgot all about me, I decided to set up another question. This is for dedicated specialists to the subject. In the Hellenistic period, what would the civic authorities do in order to consol the families who were in mourning, because of the loss of a family member? I know at least two researchers who would know the answer, Riet van Bremen and Charlotte Roueche (hint!). »
Quotation of the Week 20
I have been wondering about the future of education in this country for some time. So, I decided to gather together a few quotes that will help me understand it better. Here they go: “(On Cambridge University…) This place is the Devil, or at least his principle residence, they call it the University, but any other appellation would have suited it much better, for study is the last pursuit of the society; the Master eats, drinks and sleeps, the Fellows drink, dispute, and pun, the emp... »
David Willetts, Karl Marx and Higher Education in the UK
The probable increase of tuition fees in Universities is back in the news. Our students, for the past few years, have been burdened with additional fees that leave them financially crippled by the time they finish their studies. Their debts amount up to 20.000 pounds just for their undergraduate education. This is certainly an inauspicious start in life! The new Minister of Education, David Willetts, positioned himself firmly on the side of the people who believe that the current system is not s... »
Quotation of the Week 19
“With history one can never be certain, but I think I can safely say that Aristotle Onassis would not have maried Mrs Khrushchev.” (Gore Vidal, in Sunday Times, 4 June 1989) »
Ancient History Competition 25
Manolis run out of ancient Greek ideas and he just send me a quiz about the Eastern Roman empire. Which Roman (or Byzantine, if you prefer) emperor earned his nickname by soiling the fount during his christening? »
Generation Y and Academic Teachers
Generation Y are the children of baby boomers, born between 1982 and 1995. Currently these children are taking courses in Universities across the UK. Although the characteristics of Generation Y vary from one region to another, these persons seem to share a few common identifiers. For example, they are all computer literate, they have a facebook page, they read blogs, they know how to manipulate social media to their advantage. They use information found in Google and Wikipedia continuously and ... »
Ancient History Competition 24
Which Roman author “immortalised” Alcibiades’ favourite (?) pet? »