[+]Swimming was an exceedingly common accomplishment among the
Greeks, naturally enough, so much of their life being spent upon
or near the sea.


52. Character Building the Aim of Athenian Education.--The true
education is of course begun long before the age of seven. CHARACTER
NOT BOOK-LEARNING, IS THE MAIN OBJECT OF ATHENIAN EDUCATION, i.e.
to make the boy self-contained, modest, alert, patriotic, a true
friend, a dignified gentleman, able to appreciate and participate
in all that is true, harmonius and beautiful in life. To that end
his body must be trained, not apart from, but along with his mind.
Plato makes his character Protagoras remark, "As soon as a child
understands what is said to him, the nurse, the mother, the pedagogue,
and the father vie in their efforts to make him good, by showing
him in all that he does that 'THIS is right,' and 'THAT is wrong';
'this is pretty,' and 'that is ugly'; so that he may learn what to
follow and what to shun. If he obeys willingly--why, excellent.
If not, then try by threats and blows to correct him, as men
straighten a warped and crooked sapling." Also after he is fairly
in school "the teacher is enjoined to pay more attention to his
morals and conduct than to his progress in reading and music."


53. The Schoolboy's Pedagogue.--It is a great day for an Athenian
boy when he is given a pedagogue. This slave (perhaps purchased
especially for the purpose) is not his teacher, but he ought to be
more than ordinarily honest, kindly, and well informed. His prime
business is to accompany the young master everywhere out-of-doors,