Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

education in the roman empire 871
Municipal funding of teachers of grammar and rhetoric and sometimes
philosophy continued throughout late antiquity, though it was often hindered
or interrupted by the impoverishment of the curial class and the accidents
of warfare. Such municipally paid teachers were to be found
everywhere in the empire. In cities which became imperial residences, as
well as in some others, the central government also took a hand in the
appointment and payment of teachers.
In Constantinople there had probably been officially appointed teachers
since the foundation of the city by Constantine in 330. His son,
Constantius II, made provision for a public library in the city, 48 probably to
supplement the provision of state support for teachers. In 425 Theodosius
II issued several edicts of great interest for the history of education in the
capital. The first (C.Th. xiv.9.3) makes provision for the appointment of
ten Latin and ten Greek grammarians, three Latin and five Greek rhetoricians,
one philosopher and two teachers of law. All are to have classrooms
allocated to them in the Capitol (C.Th. xv.1.3 and 14.9.3). No other person
is to teach in any public building, but private teachers may give instruction
in the houses of their patrons (C.Th. xiv.9.3). Elsewhere in the empire, it
seems, anyone could teach grammar or rhetoric in a public place. Another
edict deals in detail with the disposition of the rooms for teachers (C.Th.
xv.1.53). Yet another confers on two Greek grammarians, one Latin grammarian,
two rhetoricians and a teacher of law the dignity of comes primi
ordinis and a rank equivalent to that of ex-vicarii (governors of groups of
provinces), and goes on to ordain that all official teachers in the capital, provided
they are of good character and professional standing, should after
twenty years of service be rewarded with the same dignity and rank (C.Th.
vi.21.1). It is a reasonable inference that the six teachers named in the edict
had all been in post for at least twenty years in 425. Imperial recognition of
the social role played by teachers of grammar and rhetoric, like that of
doctors and others, had long included exemption from taxation and service
in municipal councils, and other immunities. 49 The practice goes back at
least to the reign of Vespasian. It may well have lapsed to some extent in
the third century, but was restored by Constantine by a series of edicts
(C.Th. xiii.3). Similar immunities were extended to certain teachers of philosophy
by Theodosius II in 414 (C.Th. xiii.3.16). They are not mentioned
in later legislation.
It is not always easy to determine whether a teacher’s salary is paid by the
central government or by a city council or by both. Libanius, teacher of
rhetoric in Antioch in the fourth century, seems to have been indebted for
his salary to both emperor and council. But when he argues in a speech for
higher salaries for teachers of rhetoric in Antioch, he appears to assume
48 Them. Or. iv.59b–61a. 49 Lemerle (1971) 63–5.
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