School Is Back in Session

Yes, school is back in session for some and will begin very soon for others.  Whether you are entering 8th grade, 11th grade, freshman or senior year in college, or like myself, teaching new and returning students, it's a big adjustment after a few months of summer recess.  For Alexander fans, he, too, attended school.  His childhood was daily tutoring, but when he turned age 13, his father King Philip sent him to be instructed by Aristotle. Yes, the famous philosopher! What was it like for a 13 year old to  listen to the lessons of Aristotle?  Did Alexander learn philosophy?  Science? Math? History? Literature? Art?  Did Alexander have gym class?  The answers are: YES!  The novel, In The Theater of the World, includes many scenes of Alexander's experience in the classroom with his friends and with the famous teacher.  Here's an excerpt of a favorite scene a few readers enjoy: dissection scene with 14 year old Alexander and his friends Perdiccas and Hephaestion!

Aristotle encouraged Perdiccas to complete the analysis, but Perdiccas refused to complete it alone. 

“I will join Seleucus and Marsyas,” said Perdiccas.  As he sauntered past Hephaestion and me, he paused, returned to us, and asked me a question about my dissection.  Perdiccas said aloud in a tone that alerted me to pray to the gods for intervention, “No, I will join the Dioscuri here instead.”  I looked at him, and he smirked, ignoring my silent warning.

“Castor,” addressed Perdiccas to Hephaestion, calling him by the name of the mortal twin of the immortal Pollux.  “The frog is dead, therefore, you do not need to stab at it, lest it is I and not the frog you are visualizing.”  Hephaestion remained silent.

“Perdiccas be still,” I commanded.  "Retrieve your specimen and bring it here so as to work with us, not to annoy us...."

And a fight occurs between two of the three characters, leaving one very bruised, and the other feeling betrayed.  

And so, as you re-enter the world of school imagine what it would have been like to be sitting for many, many hours, a sleep-over three year academy, learning everything with your classmates from the famous Aristotle.