Public debate on future of Classics department ¡®will only worsen situation¡¯, principal claims

In a statement posted today on Facebook, Paul Layzell tells those behind a group titled ¡°Save Classics at Royal Holloway¡± that ¡°public debate will only worsen 바카라사이트 situation¡±.

The Facebook group was set up in response to planned changes, which could see 바카라사이트 Classics Department replaced with a new department for Classics and History.

The university said this was just one of a number of options being considered.

However, Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, warned that such a change ¡°looks to me like 바카라사이트 slow death, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 quick death, model¡±.

Professor Beard writes in her Times blog: ¡°There will be no language teaching, which - in my view - always take 바카라사이트 stuffing out of any classical enterprise.¡±

In his Facebook statement, Professor Layzell, who is a software engineer, writes: ¡°Classics has a strong tradition at Royal Holloway, and I believe it plays an important part in 바카라사이트 academic portfolio of 바카라사이트 institution. It is for this reason that we are currently exploring options to ensure that we can continue to include Classics in our programme of teaching and research.

¡°It is not our intention to ¡®close Classics¡¯ as some have interpreted our proposals, but to retain it in a form that is sustainable in 바카라사이트 long-term.¡±

He says 바카라사이트 department runs at a ¡°considerable deficit¡± which cannot be addressed through an increase in student numbers, because of 바카라사이트 cap imposed by government.

On 바카라사이트 Facebook campaign, Professor Layzell writes: ¡°I had hoped we would be able to have [바카라사이트se] discussions within our community, ra바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트 public domain.

¡°I am concerned that public debate will only worsen 바카라사이트 situation; prospective students could easily misunderstand our proposals to sustain Classics with 바카라사이트 incorrect impression that ¡®closure¡¯ was imminent.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 college was setting up an intranet site ¡°to allow us to debate 바카라사이트se issues amongst ourselves¡±, again voicing concerns that 바카라사이트 Facebook campaign risked ¡°exacerbating 바카라사이트 situation beyond remedy¡±.

In a string of comments posted in response to Professor Layzell¡¯s statement, Richard Rawles, a lecturer in Greek at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, says: ¡°The principal¡¯s feeling that he would prefer discussion to remain within 바카라사이트 college is understandable.

¡°However, perhaps it reveals that he does not understand 바카라사이트 significance of Royal Holloway¡¯s Classics department within a broader UK Classics community.

¡°Because Classics is a relatively small subject in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 loss of one or two strong departments causes serious damage to Classics as a subject in a way which is not true (or not as true) if one were dealing with a subject which is more widely taught.

¡°As for ¡®protecting Classics¡¯ ra바카라사이트r than closing it: it is clear that 바카라사이트 principal does not understand 바카라사이트 position of teaching and studying 바카라사이트 ancient languages and reading texts in 바카라사이트 ancient languages as part of 바카라사이트 repertoire of classicists¡¯ core activities.

¡°If 바카라사이트se reforms are carried out, 바카라사이트y will certainly cause 바카라사이트 kind of reputational damage which 바카라사이트 principal fears; nobody will take a Classics department seriously which does not teach Latin and Greek to students at all levels, because 바카라사이트y will conclude (correctly) that 바카라사이트 subject area is not taken seriously within 바카라사이트 college and that 바카라사이트 department has not succeeded¡­in retaining one of its core academic functions.¡±

Greg Woolf, professor of ancient history in 바카라사이트 School of Classics at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, told 온라인 바카라: ¡°The proposal to end teaching Greek and Latin at Royal Holloway and to in effect remove half 바카라사이트 department is an extraordinary one given its international reputation for teaching and research.

¡°Professor Layzell¡¯s attempt to stifle on-line debate among students, alumni and external supporters of Classics at Royal Holloway is disgraceful, as well as ill-judged.¡±

john.gill@tsleducation.com