At the foundation of Americaâs democratic-republican form of government rests the influence of the classics. The Founding Fathers were men who varied in backgrounds, temperament and political beliefs, but shared an abiding appreciation for classical education.
The democratic institutions of Greece and Rome heavily influenced the founders of American democracy, and many regard French and English philosophers Montesquieu and John Locke as providing the intellectual and moral heft for Americaâs democratic-republic.
Howard University, one of the nationâs highly esteemed historically Black institutions of higher learning, recently announced plans to dissolve the classics department. University officials did state that a handful of classes taught within the division would be absorbed into other liberal arts departments. This latter qualifier still sends a message of devaluation for classical education on the Howard campus.