Classics to end at Oxford

[mids2019]

https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2025/04/01/oxford-university-to-abolish-classics-degree/

So is this a necessary refresh of subjects being offered in the 21st century or a cynical ploy to reduce the number of private school applicants and gain some modernising PR?

Personally I think Greek and Roman cultures underpin a lot of modern philosophy, culture and scientific thought so dispensing with this degree is a shame especially when there are resources and ability to teach.

I'd maybe take a look at the date the article was published 😊

“A University spokesperson told The Oxford Student: “For too long, students have been expected to translate archaic languages that nobody actually speaks, read texts that are thousands of years old, and study the ideas of long-dead philosophers who frankly never had to learn Microsoft Excel, use LinkedIn, or apply for internships. After a thorough review by the University’s Humanities Division, we have come to the conclusion that this is not the best use of our students’ time.”

😁

They would be FOOLish to do that

🤣🤣

"Instead, resources from the Classics department will be directed to the creation of new undergraduate courses under the branch of “applied humanities”, such as History of AI, The Art of Networking, which tests students’ ability to craft cold emails, and PowerPoint studies, where students are required to translate their essays into a five-page slide deck in place of a final thesis".

This was my favourite paragraph! 😂

Must admit, that one got me (though I only read the headline, not the article) - all too believable amid all the bad news coming from universities lately.

Oxford is about the only place you could write that as an April fool and it would be amusing rather than too close to the bone.

A good one!

Sadly only too true!