Report of the Task
Force
on the Relationship between Graduate Education and the Undergraduate
Curriculum
Section
3
D. Grote's observations about the
evolution of the field (summary)
"I think we need to develop and recognize the
legitimacy of an entirely new discipline, which will be more marketable
and which will recognize the centrality of classical culture to western
tradition." Grote goes on to say: "1) there is a crisis in the field of
classics right now, the persistent lack of new employment at
institutions with established programs; 2) there is also, on the other
hand, real growth potential for 'classical humanities' at institutions
like mine, but only if the PhDs can be trained to answer immediate needs
at these schools. Administrations at such schools understandably will
be reluctant to take on new PhDs in the classics who have been trained,
and who are temperamentally disposed, to start up classics programs
which, under even the best of circumstances, will directly affect only a
very small number of students." Finally, Grote proposes a parallel
degree track in grad programs in Classical Humanities "which would have
a strong core in the languages, but would take a wider view of classics
as the heart of western traditions." C. Pavur then endorsed the idea
of a new "constellation in the univ. firmament" and offered some
extended and widely ranging ruminations on the complementary reaches and
purposes of undergrad and grad education.