My Take | The Western canon is the cure for Anglo-American wokeness
- All countries should try to re(dis)cover their cultural and civilisational roots. Those that reject their own heritage are committing cultural self-harm, if not suicide
Is it too little too late or just about time?
At a high-powered conference last week, the education ministers of France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus met in Paris to sign a new charter to promote the teaching of Latin and Ancient Greek languages. The goal is to reintroduce the classical languages into their respective education systems.
It is widely seen as a necessary move for young Europeans to rediscover the Western classics and return to the roots of their own civilisation. Politically, it is to counter the pernicious global influence of Anglo-American wokeness and political correctness.
According to the French press, Latin and Ancient Greek will be introduced into the classes of vocational schools from the sixth grade onwards as they are taught Sophocles and Plato. The more academic schools already offer such lessons.
“French politicians, high-profile intellectuals and journalists are warning that progressive American ideas – specifically on race, gender, post-colonialism – are undermining their society,” The New York Times reported in February.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, the French education minister, and his supporters have said the accord of the four countries is needed to counter woke culture. The New York Times quoted him as warning “against an intellectual matrix from American universities”.