Hordle

Notwithstanding the general decline in the study of Classics in education, Latin has always been considered an important part of the curriculum at Hordle Walhampton, as it is in most independent preparatory and senior schools.

During the past decade the Daily Telegraph and the Times have conducted a campaign to promote the study of Classics, and Latin in particular. Columnist Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and president of the Joint Association of Classical Teachers, is one of its most enthusiastic advocates. “The fact is, Classics is the ultimate crunchy subject: intellectually stimulating and challenging at the same time, unlike so many of these soft option subjects that are available today. Access the classical world and, in my view, you have the key to untold riches.”

A strong argument for Classics in the curriculum is presented by Dr. Lorna Robinson, leader of the Iris Project which teaches Latin in state schools in Hackney. “Our whole way of life is imbued with the language and culture of the classical world. I believe that this knowledge should be at the disposal of all children, no matter what school they go to.”

There are many good reasons for studying Latin. A basic grasp of Latin provides an insight into the English language, helping particularly with vocabulary – some 60% 0f English words derive from Latin – and with grammar and sentence structure.

 

Boris Johnson asserts that “Latin is in many ways more useful as a starting point than a modern foreign language because it gives you the key to so many other languages.” Would that his fellow politicians might heed his advice! Latin helps with learning Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and to some extent French.

Perhaps the most persistent advocate of Classics over the past two decades has been Dr. Peter Jones, sometime lecturer at Newcastle University and founder of the educational charity Friends of Classics. He quotes American research into the benefits of studying Latin. “In 1973 there was a serious survey done in Indianapolis on the effects of teaching Latin on 400 sixth-grade children in six schools. After five months of Latin they discovered that the children had advanced eight months in word knowledge, one year in reading, one year and one month in language, seven months in maths, nine months in problem-solving….”

And thinking of problem-solving…. Latin can help you solve the Daily Telegraph cryptic crossword. E.g. clue: Sincere Roman (4,4) – solution: bona fide

All children at Hordle Walhampton are given the chance to study Latin. To begin with, in Year 5 we use the Minimus text book – Minimus the mouse who according to his publicity has “made Latin cool”. The aim of the author, Barbara Bell, is “…. to acquaint children with Latin words and grammatical structure through the adventures of a little mouse and, of course, cat (Vibrissa), who share a house with a real-life Roman family at the fort of Vindolanda, near Hadrian’s Wall, in AD 100.” Besides discovering fascinating connexions between Latin and English vocabulary and language structure, the children learn about the background of life in Roman Britain. Each chapter of Minimus also introduces a Greek or Roman Legend – we find that this is a very effective way to generate pupils’ interest in the subject.

From Year 6 we introduce the Disce Latinum series of text books. As with Minimus, the course is translation-based, but greater emphasis is now laid on the foundation of grammar learning. The Latin stories are based around a family living in Rome in AD 82, and thus topics of Roman life are covered: domestic (clothes, meals etc.), social (slavery, amphitheatre, chariot racing etc.) and historical. The Common Entrance syllabus also requires knowledge of the legends of Perseus, Theseus, Hercules, Jason, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Almost all children in Year 8 sit the Common Entrance examination in Latin, at either Level 1, 2, or 3, depending on their attainment and the requirements of prospective senior schools. More advanced pupils may well sit the more demanding scholarship examinations, some of which require a knowledge of grammar and syntax almost equivalent to GCSE.

We try to add a practical perspective to classroom learning. Hordle Walhampton is well situated to take advantage of Roman sites in the vicinity. Year 3 often visit Rockbourne Roman villa near Fordingbridge www.hants.gov.uk/museum/rockbourne or Bignor villa near Chichester as part of their study of the Romans www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk Fishbourne Roman palace near Chichester www.roman-britain.org/places/fishbourne and Brading on the Isle of Wight are also popular destinations www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk .

In conclusion, we hope that in our Latin lessons at Hordle Walhampton we shall have contributed something towards our pupils’ appreciation of the rich classical legacy mentioned by Stephen Pile recently in the Sunday Times. “Latin and Greek are unrivalled subjects. The most advanced modern minds could not devise such an effective multi-disciplinary course which teaches the essence of your own language and six others, plus the basics of history, law, myth, administration, poetry, philosophy, mathematics and military science.” And crossword puzzles!