Our modern university is a direct descendant of the Medieval institution. Of the many differences between these early centers of education and our modern ones (eg, only dudes allowed), there are some significant similarities. You can see from this illuminated illustration from 1400 that the lecturer up at the podium to the left is not interesting enough to prevent the student in the far back on the right from falling asleep in class.
The famous University of Bologna, which excelled at teaching law, had someone called Álvaro Pelayo study there. This Álvaro complained about the students of the 14th-century, writing:
“They attend classes but make no effort to learn anything . . . . The expense money which they have from their parents or churches they spend in taverns, conviviality, games and other superfluities, and so they return empty, without knowledge, conscience, or money.”
The more things change . . . . .
Sources: Medievalists.net, Medieval teachers complaining about their students,” Sept 2023. Image “iber ethicorum Des Henricus de Alemania,” by Laurentius Voltolina
