Subject Specialization

Should Latin be Taught?

Does a dead language have any place in a 21st-century curriculum? Is it useful? Is it relevant? Does it have value as an enrichment to the core curriculum? I think it does, and for the following reasons.

1. Latin offers young people a glimpse into the life and times of the ancient Romans.

Yes, they can read about ancient Rome and watch videos. They can learn about the expansion of the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar. All that information is readily available. But it is filtered information. The whole point of learning a language is to be able to read source materials. I don't want somebody telling me what Julius Caesar said. I want to read it for myself. I want to understand what Caesar said, why he said it, how he said it - the works.

With that assumption in mind, it makes sense to allow students to experience the language by learning how to speak it. Perhaps Latin may be a dead language because it is no longer the lingua franca of commerce and world affairs. On the other hand, Latin is a beautiful-sounding language that will delight young listeners.

I will disclaim that I learned Latin back in the 50s and 60s when it was taught in the rather old-fashioned way languages were taught back then. You learned endless conjugations and declensions. You struggled with Latin's nuanced sense of tense. Et cetera. It would have been rather dry and dull had

It is a humbling moment for parents when they realize that their child is gifted. If we accept the definition of gifted as being something along these lines:

"A gifted person is someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression." ....National Association of Gifted Children

It dawns on us that we have a huge responsibility on our hands. Because you have enriched your child's learning since birth, you understandably are anxious about placing him in a school setting where both his teachers and his peers might misunderstand his giftedness. Ideally, you want him to blossom and flourish in a formal school setting; however you don't want limits placed on how fast he advances. If he decides to explore a particular subject in depth, you want him to be able to do that. If he is doing math several years ahead of his grade level, you want him to have an accelerated math program. You also want him to socialize in as normal a manner as possible. Learning how to fit in is paramount as he matures. Fortunately, you have several options available. Homeschooling, charter schools, talented and gifted programs run by your local school district, your local public school, and private schools are all possibilities into which you should look.

Start by looking for schools in the web. Ask friends and family for their recommendations. Once you have a short list of schools and

How about living on a working farm for a semester? Or investigating marine life in The Bahamas? Perhaps you grew up on a farm and are hankering to explore a major city like New York. A semester school offers those experiences and more.

Semester schools offer students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in an intensive educational experience for half of an academic year. Unlike traditional schools, they often focus on specialized subjects or provide a unique learning environment. This alternative has become increasingly popular for those looking to enrich their academic journey.

When to Attend a Semester School
The ideal time to attend a semester school varies, but often these schools cater to high school students seeking a more profound educational experience. They can be beneficial for students looking to explore specific interests such as arts, sciences, or environmental studies, or those needing remediation. Typically students like to spend part of their junior year away from their home school. It's practical and doesn't interfere much with the academic sequence, testing, college applications and all the other features of your senior year.

The Cost of Semester Schools
Semester schools can range in cost, with tuition often similar to or slightly higher than traditional private schools. Financial aid and scholarships may be available for qualifying students. Careful consideration of costs, including travel and supplementary expenses, should be part of the decision-making process. The cost? From no cost to several thousands of dollars not including extras. Is there financial aid? Yes. Ask