Each year in mid-July, CANE hosts its Summer Institute. Long held at Dartmouth College, it moved to Brown about four years ago. It is a week filled with study, discourse, discovery, and camaraderie. This year, I learned about Quintilian and his recommendations for what makes a great orator. The comparisons to modern pedagogical theories were fascinating. My other course focused on “New Music” in Greece, and I was struck by its similarities to modern musical critique. I was curious to find out why other people had come to CSI, and here are some of the top reasons:
1. It feels like a mini grad course. Participants take two classes, one each in the morning and afternoon. There are also a couple of public lectures each day throughout the week. Combine the intensive coursework with the feel of living on campus and you’ll be transported back to your college days.
2. It keeps you mentally stimulated. Those intensive classes and lectures really rev up your mental engine. If you feel like the summer is the doldrums, this institute is a great way to charge your batteries. You’ll learn things you’ve never thought of before and make connections between new subjects.
3. It’s a safe and comfortable space for debate. Presenters and participants alike commented on how the environment was salutary and non-judgmental. The spirit of the week was one of thoughtful consideration and analysis, not contrarianism or criticism.
4. It’s not primarily a teacher workshop. Though there were some sessions for teachers to share some techniques, the primary focus was on intensive study of a wide range of topics. This is not a deficit for the teacher, but rather a way to think about and focus on content rather than pedagogy, and to make connections about new topics and themes. If you ever feel bogged down by all the pedagogical theory that is abundant these days, this institute is a way to get back to basics with the material that makes us all love the Classics.
There are always some familiar faces, but also some new ones. We encourage you to try the institute in years to come. It is a great value and the opportunities are endless. You can check out the CSI page for more information as it becomes available.