Latin – A Shepherd's Story

Elementary Latin

December 1, 2016December 1, 2016 Rev. Johann Caauwe1 Comment

latin-cropped

I was asked to write an article on teaching Latin in our synod’s elementary schools, which has been posted on the MLC Issues in Lutheran Education blog.

A Case for Classical Latin in Elementary Schools

Below are links to some of the resources mentioned in the blog post, and a few others.

And a few of my own posts on Latin and Education:

Teachers & Latin

October 22, 2016October 22, 2016 Rev. Johann Caauwe1 Comment

A teacher with no Latin is like a blind man flying an airplane. He might land it, but it will be dumb luck, and he won’t know how it happened.

–Mrs. Abiah Kittredge, in Northern Borders

Latin and Ditches

July 18, 2013October 22, 2016 Rev. Johann Caauwe3 Comments

I came across this little clip in an 1891 Yearbook for the Christian Home.

Latin and Ditches

John Adams, the second President of our land, used to relate the following anecdote:

“When I was still a boy, I had to learn the Latin Grammar, but I was lazy and hated the thing. My father wished to send me to college, and therefore I studied the Grammar, until I could no longer bear it. Then I went to my father and said to him that I had no desire to study, and asked him to direct me to another occupation. It was against his wishes but he was ready with an answer. “Well John,” he said, “if Latin Grammar does not suit you, you can try digging ditches, perhaps that will be better; my pasture over there needs a ditch, and you can set aside the Latin and try that.”

This seemed a delightful change, and off to the meadow I went. But I soon learned that ditch-digging is harder than Latin, and the first morning was the longest I ever experienced. That day I ate the bread of hard work, and I was glad when evening came. That night I made some comparison between Latin Grammar and ditch-digging, but didn’t say a word about it. I dug the next morning, and wanted to return to Latin by noon, but it was humiliating, and I couldn’t bear that. By the second night, weariness conquered my pride; and though it was the hardest test I had ever undergone, I finally brought myself to say to my father, that if he chose, I would go back to Latin Grammar. He was glad of it, and if I have since gained any distinction in the world, I owe it all to the two days of labor in that abominable ditch.”