ACADEMIC Inspiring,enthralling Classics
“To have this resource right on our doorstep is the best thing,” says Classics teacher Chloe Harland.
“We don’t have the luxury of popping over to Italy or Greece, but we do have access to this amazing and inspiring collection, and I want to utilise it as much as I can, whenever I can.” Chloe is talking about the James Logie Memorial Collection, one of the University of Canterbury’s great treasures, which is now housed in the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities in the Arts Centre. The Logie Collection serves as a teaching and research collection and features some priceless works of art and artefacts from the ancient world. Each piece tells a story of
life in societies long gone, but not forgotten. There is much we can learn from ancient civilisations that is still relevant to our lives today. The Teece Museum opened in May 2017. Its inaugural exhibition – We Could Be Heroes – celebrates the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is a theme reflected in an internal assessment devised by Chloe for her Year 13 students. A dedicated research day is a rare treat in a busy school schedule, but on Tuesday 8 August Year 13 Classics students took a break from
their usual routines to visit the Teece Museum and focus on the task at hand. “The boys are looking at hero culture, comparing some of today’s fictional and real heroes with the stories of Hercules, Odysseus and Achilles, looking at similarities and differences, and studying them in terms of the prevailing social context,” says Chloe. “Heroes are a reflection of the time in which they’re born, but they’re so much more than that. Their stories are timeless because, at heart, the myths of gods and heroes are about the human condition – our hopes, our fears, and how we view and understand the world.” Chloe says she is constantly looking for opportunities to bring Classics to life and was keen to create an assessment specifically so the boys could engage with the Logie Collection, to learn how to use primary source material,
“I try and teach Classics as a story. It’s compelling and fascinating and there’s somuch to learn.” Chloe Harland
12
Christ’s College Canterbury
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