medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Clarke denies medieval history slur
Donald MacLeod
Friday May 9, 2003
The education secretary, Charles Clarke, today strongly denied that he had
dismissed medieval historians as "ornamental" or suggested the state should
not fund them.
His rebuttal of a report in the Times Higher Education Supplement was backed
up by the principal of University College, Worcester where Mr Clarke gave a
lecture last month on why the state should devote considerable resources to
higher education.
Remarks quoted by the THES and repeated in the Guardian and other papers
caused outrage. "I don't mind there being some medievalists around for
ornamental purposes, but there is no reason for the state to pay for them."
In a letter to be published in the Guardian tomorrow, Mr Clarke explained:
"I am not in any way opposed to medieval studies (or for that matter Latin).
"I positively support the spread and development of both classical and
medieval studies.
"What I have said on a number of occasions, including at Worcester, is that
the 'medieval concept' of the university as a community of scholars is only
a very limited justification for the state to fund the apparatus of
universities. It is the wider social and economic role of universities which
justifies more significant state financial support.
"My use of the word 'medieval' in this context has obviously been somehow
transformed into a criticism of the study of medievalism in all its forms,
which is not at all what I think."
Today, Professor David Green, principal of University College, Worcester,
said there were plenty of academics at the lecture in April, including
historians. "There would have been a storm if Charles had said what he is
alleged to have said," he commented.
He said Mr Clarke argued that the idea of a community of scholars seeking
after truth did not justify state investment, but he did advocate the study
of seemingly obscure history - for instance of the Baltic states - because
of the potential importance to the country.
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