The Collection of Classical School Text-Books housed
in the Department of Education in the
University of Leeds is, so far
as is known, the only Collection of its kind. It currently contains about
5,000
items. The Catalogue, which is in
course of publication in four volumes, lists not only the items held but also
some 5,000 other titles known to have been published in this field since1800.
The Collection and its
Catalogue are therefore essential tools for all those researching either in the
Methodology of Classical Teaching or in certain historical aspects of the
Sociology of Education, particularly for the nineteenth century. Because of the
position of the Classics in the curriculum of the time the text-books of no
other subject can reflect so fully the values and attitudes of teachers, of
educators, and indeed of society at large.
In this respect the prefaces
and dedications are often of considerable importance and value. So too are the
topics, and even the sentences, set for translation in the composition manuals
and course-books. The varying emphases shown in the changing pattern of the
chosen authors for reading in schools are also of subtle but important
significance. These may be seen to be even more apparent in the text-book
treatment of history, mythology, and social life.
The Collection has
concentrated on text-books published since 1800, because such books are far
more vulnerable and likely to be lost; the older books tend to preserve
themselves by reason of their inherent value in the antiquarian book market.
The Collection has however a small but growing section of pre-1800 volumes.
Nevertheless for this earlier period it cannot compete wilh
the libraries of some of the ancient schools of this country which research
students working in this field would need to visit.
The Curator of the
Collection is anxious that these opportunities should be known to be available
to all mastership, doctoral or other research students who can benefit
from the Collection, especially those concerned in the study of educational
development in the English-speaking world. There is a small supporting
collection of Classical text-books in other European languages, but researchers
in the comparative field would need to use library resources in Continental
countries to supplement this very small sample.
Thompson,
Catalogue of the National Collection of Greek au4
Latin School Text-Books
|
Part One: |
Dictionaries – Grammars –
Vocabularies – Notes and Miscellanea – Courses – Composition Manuals (Prose
and Verse) – Readers – Selections pp. viij
+ 119
1970 £0.50 |
|
Part Two: |
Greek Texts – Notes –
Vocabularies – Translations pp. xij
+ 100
1974 £1.50 |
|
Part Three: |
Latin Texts – Notes –
Vocabularies – Translations due for publication in
Autumn 1977 £1.50 |
|
Part Four: |
School Text Books about
the Classical World (Greek and Roman Art, History, Geography, Literature,
Mythology, Philosophy, Social Life, etc.) as well as Books and Periodicals
about Classical Teaching in Schools. due for publication in
1978 |
The Parts may be ordered separately, or as a set,
from
The Secretary, The