especially to the school and to the gymnasium; to carry his books
and writing tablets; to give informal help upon his lessons; to
keep him out of every kind of mischief; to teach him social good
manners; to answer the thousand questions a healthy boy is sure to
ask; and finally, in emergencies, if the schoolmaster or his father
is not at hand, to administer a needful whipping. A really capable
pedagogue can mean everything to a boy; but it is asking too much
that a purchased slave should be an ideal companion.[*] Probably
many pedagogues are responsible for their charges' idleness or
downright depravity. It is a dubious system at the best.

[*]No doubt frequently the pedagogue would be an old family servant
of good morals, loyalty, and zeal. In that case the relation might
be delightful.

The assigning of the pedagogue is simultaneous with the beginning
of school days; and the Athenians are not open to the charge
of letting their children waste their time during possible study
hours. As early as Solon's day (about 590 B.C.) a law had to be
passed forbidding schools to open BEFORE daybreak, or to be kept
open after dusk. This was in the interest not of good eyesight,
but of good morals. Evidently schools had been keeping even longer
than through the daylight. In any case, at gray dawn every yawning
schoolboy is off, urged on by his pedagogue, and his tasks will
continue with very little interruption through the entire day.
It is therefore with reason that the Athenian lads rejoice in the
very numerous religious holidays.


54. An Athenian School.--Leaving the worthy citizen's home, where