Child care in the beginnings of Greek education: similarities and contrasts with Hebrew education

• Autor(a) principal: Torres, Milton Luiz
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Protestantismo em Revista
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.est.edu.br/index.php/nepp/article/view/126
• topic: Theology; Education; Paideia; Greek education; Hebrew education; Teologia; Teologia Bíblica; Religião e Educação; Educação; Paideia; Educação grega; Educação hebreia

This paper addresses child care in the beginnings of Greek education. Based on an analysis of some of the most ancient texts among the Greeks - the Homeric epics - evidence is provided that Greek education from its inception contemplated child care. When compared to its contemporary Hebrew education, Greek education shows a similar concern for child care, with the additional advantage of being more systematic and inclusive. Besides, despite the fact that some scholars state that such concern for child care was late among the Greeks - originating only with Plato in the Classical period in the fifth century before Christ - these authors fail to notice that Greek epic tradition goes back to a culture that is much older than the crystallization of epic poetry in written form. As it was practiced by the Mycenaean since the fifteenth century before Christ, Greek education can be put side by side with the oldest educational practices we know of.