De impact van Oudgriekse studie op kansarme leerlingen

Summary In the spring of 2019, a pilot project of the university of Ghent named Oude Grieken – Jonge Helden (‘Ancient Greeks – Young Heroes’) brought the study of the Ancient Greek language and culture to primary school pupils of years 5 and 6 in the East Flanders area (Belgium). This project brings Greek to pupils from a socio-economically deprived background with the purpose of raising participants’ intellectual aspirations and increasing access to and visibility of Ancient Greek study. This article describes the ideological context and practical organization of the project, and explores its impact on participants. Results from a mixed-method questionnaire demonstrate its potential to have an impact on the self-confidence of young children who live in poverty. Moreover, since results correspond with those of a project the coordinator ran in the United Kingdom in previous years, they validate the concept of the project across cultural and linguistic boundaries. This article argues that the concept of widening participation as exemplified by this particular project can successfully reach non-traditional target groups of ancient Greek study, to the benefit not only of the participants but also of the future of our subject area. Intellectuals are typically privileged; privilege yields opportunity, and opportunity confers responsibilities. An individual then has choices. Noam Chomsky (2017: 21)