ASHAM, ROGER. - Humanist and pedagogue, b. at Kirby Wiske (Yorkshire) in 1515, d. 23 Dec. 1568. He cultivated humanistic studies, with special care for Greek, of which he became “regio professore” in 1540; he was also tutor to the future Queen Elizabeth, then still a princess, and later Latin secretary to Edward VI, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth, once she had become queen.
His name is linked to two works of notable pedagogical value: the first, Toxophilus (1545), deals with archery, presented as a physical exercise most useful for the harmonious development of the body and the defense of the country. Written in English, it aimed to persuade readers of the efficacy and plasticity of the national language, in opposition to the then predominance of Latin, Italian, and French. The second, The Schoolmaster (1570), published posthumously by his widow, had been composed for the education of his three sons, and treated three main points: truth in religion, honesty in life, and the true method of study. The author reveals himself as deeply influenced by the ideas of Il Cortegiano by B. Castiglione, even recommending its reading; yet, as a good Puritan, while esteeming and praising Italian culture, he warns young men against coming to Italy, lest they be corrupted by contact with the relaxed morals of the Italians. Most important is the third point, concerning educational methods: he recommends the method of translation and back-translation for Latin; he insists that Latin should be learned more through constant reading of the classics than through dry grammatical study; he deplores the then-current habit of imposing the exclusive use of Latin on school pupils; the national language has its own merits and beauties; moreover, children forced to speak a language not their own end up using it in a barbarous and unreflective manner.