Maia Lee-Chin

Title: Classics in the Classroom: Retelling the Iliad in Worcester

Zoom Performance - April 27th at 6:30-7:30 pm

Zoom Link

What does an ancient epic poem mean to 6-8 year olds in Worcester, MA?

The field of Classics has long been used as a tool of exclusion for marginalized communities. Those who have been excluded were considered “less than human,” and thought incapable of learning the grammatical structures that composed ancient languages. Classicists have recently tried to work against gatekeeping forces that exclude largely marginalized communities. Scholars create outreach programs to increase the diversity within the field. Although the work to diversify the field is an important one, scholars have made these attempts without questioning if studying Classics is valuable or interesting for children. Lee-Chin’s project seeks to center youth voices as experts in their own lives and discover what students think about Classics, and how they believe it fits into their own education.

This academic year Maia Lee-Chin worked with young elementary school students to introduce them to the Iliad, an ancient Greek epic poem that at first glance might seem inaccessible to children. She developed a curriculum that spanned 6 weeks and partnered with Recreation Worcester to connect with children in Worcester. She conducted several interviews with students to understand their experiences with the curriculum and the field of Classics. Her yearlong project, “Classics in the Classroom: Retelling the Iliad in Worcester,” reexamines an unspoken assumption that Classics is valuable and engaging for students. Her presentation investigates youth motivations to learn, and intersects with disparities in education and racism and exclusion in the field of Classics.