小さな英語教室

Vol. 61 : 息子の同級生が書いたエッセー： 「The Importance of Homework」

　前回、日本と欧米のエッセーの違いについて触れましたが、手元に、息子が中学2年のとき同級生だった友人のエッセーがあるので紹介します。宿題を数回忘れた彼は、先生から罰として「反省文を書いてこい」と言われこのエッセーを提出しました。日本の「作文」と異なる、論理的な思考訓練の教育効果に気付かれると思います。これを読んだ担当の先生は、その後宿題に関してうるさく言わなくなったとか。私は大笑いして、ファイルに保存しました。十数年を経て再び日の目を見るエッセーです。訳さずにそのまま掲載します。なお、中2なので、多少の間違いはお見逃しいただきたい。

　The Importance of Homework

　Homework in today's society is an essential element of a child's education. It is not only an extension of the work and notes he receives in the classroom, but also a disciplinary measure to enforce a sense of routine. But first, to better understand the principles of Homework in today's society, we must look into the History behind Homework.

　The idea of educating children began in the Roman Empire over Two thousand years ago. Select children were sent to these "schools" and taught about Language, History and Science.　Homework was not necessary in these times, as they did not have enough blackboard space to do much work at home. (Paper hadn't been invented, and the "Paper" that they did use was very expensive). Then during the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages set in, and almost everyone went off to work in the field, or fight a battle. Nobody bothered to do any study, as it was a waste of time.

　During the Renaissance, people started to learn again, and the English (from whom we get our modern day school system) introduced boarding schools. These schools were invented to: a)　keep the kids off the streets and make them into civilized human beings; b)　make them into tough men ready to handle the world (probably either taking over their father's estate, or going into the armed forces); c)　teach them the Classics of Latin, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Literature and Biblical Studies.

　During later years, perhaps in the mid ninetieth century, day-schools started to appear, and these became popular as the boys (or even girls) could live at the home. To catch up on the work that they did not cover while in full time school, they were set work to do at home, or Homework. This was the start of the downfall of the importance of the family, and the rise of the technological era that we have today.

　今回は、前書きと展開の半ばのところで終わります。続きは来週にいたしましょう。19世紀半ばに作られたday-schoolがフルタイムの学校に追いつくために課した「宿題」。これが家庭没落 (downfall) の始まりであった、などという歴史解釈など、自分の宿題未提出に都合よく書かれてあり、苦笑してしまいます。では次回の「結論」をお楽しみに…。