To Study Greek Poet

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 1

To Study Greek Poet

Professor D. A. Kidd, head of classics at the University of Canterbury, will leave next week for England to work for a year at the University of London under a Commonwealth studies grant of the Institute of Classical Studies.

These rare awards to scholars enable the holders to pursue research of their own choosing. One of the first made was to Dr. H. D. Broadhead, also of Christchurch, in 1961.

Professor Kidd plans to work on the Greek poet Arates, who is notable for a

poem on astronomy in 270 B.C. He had an important influence on the poetry of his time and also on the Latin poets of the first century B.C. Professor Kidd hopes to write a commentary on this poem as there is none in English. The Institute of Classical

Studies had a fine library and was also near the British Museum, so he would have ideal facilities for his research, said Professor Kidd. Streamlining Latin

While in England Professor Kidd also intends to keep a close watch on the work of a commission, based on Cambridge, which is investigating the teaching of Latin, particularly in the schools. "There is a widespread belief that teaching methods for Latin are out of date and that new techniques are needed,” Professor Kidd said. “There is much less time for teaching nowadays so our methods need to be streamlined.” The inquiry could be as important to the universities as to the schools. Professor Kidd also intends to examine halls of residence wherever possible. He is leader of the present church halls appeal within the university staff and is also on the committee for Rutherford Hall, the proposed Presbyterian-Methodist hostel. After the annual meetings of the Classical Association, Professor Kidd has been invited to speak on the classics in New Zealand at an international colloquium to be held in Cardiff.

On his way home he will visit Italy and Greece for some field studies. Professor Kidd will be accompanied by his wife and family.