Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-05
THE STUDY OF LATIN.
Advice to Now scholars in the High
Schools.

The opening Of the public schools on
Monday gives me the opportunity, as,
indeed, it suggests the necessity, OF say
ing few words to the patrons of the high
schools on the study of Latin. This study
is part OF the school system, and nearly
all the rev pupils, as they come up from
the grammar schools, take up the study,
and carry it through the school course.
But because 1t requires the most time and
the hardest application, some are unwil-
ling to undertake it. and others are either
discouraged or prohibited by their parents.
Thus 1t happens that in every new class
there are few who begin the high school
course without this most valuable study.
The object OF this article is to appeal to
parents that they put no obstacle in the
way OF the school curriculum, but leave
the matter to the teachers. My reasons
are:
l. Latin is part Of high school edu-
cation, and is so prescribed in nearly
every high school in this country, and
The presumption, therefore, is that lis
study is a useful educational factor.
?. Ii Latin is omitted there is no sub
stltute practicable, for the reason that, in
a class OF forty or more pupils, the
teacher has no time for special instruc-
ton in special studies, and the result is
that the hOur and half necessary to pre-
pare and TO recite a Latin lesson is
usually unoccuped, and the child not
on y loses this time, but lOses interest in
other studies and falls into idleuess.
8. l know the usual reply to this OBJ
lection Is, that the time saved from the
study OF Latin can be protitably given to
other studies, and the child can thus be-
come proficient in them. But to say
nothing OF the fact well known to teach
ers, that children without fixed and COM
pulsOry work for certain hours will al
most surely waste those hours, and thus
become demoraliZed as students. 1t il
An actual truth, verifable from year to
year in any Of our classes, that the pupils
VINO take the whole course OF school stud
les, are, WITH surprisingly few exceptions,
always the best scholars. Parad0Xical as
this may seem, the reason is plain, for,
4. Even if this hour and a half be not
wasted, but honestly given to English
studies, these studies leach having al
ready its own assigned time) cannot fill
UP this extra time Except in the case Of
very dull pupils) and we find such
scholars, from losing the discipline OF
Latin study, generally behiCd hand IN
their mathematics and English. This is
50 because Latin arOuses interest, abs0rbs
attention, necessitates application, and
trains the perceptiYe and reflective facul-
ties, so as not only to make good thinkers
and writer's, but it wonderfully helps in
ali other studies.
These are sufficient reasons for taking
up the study of Latin in general cases
under the school regulations, and not
risking a mistake in education at so i'm
pOrtant period OF life There are cases,
which none see quicker than teachers
where pupils may and ought to be eX-
cused from Latin; say because Of extreme
dullness, where a child needs all the
schooltime to learn the English branches,
and then can barely keep up; or because
of entering at late age with no prospect
OF staying to complete the course; or be-
cause Of poor health, when there can be
no hard study. In such cases the child
should be urged to omit Latin. In all
others | feel sure that il is much better
for every boy and girl to study Latin from
the beginning to the end Of the high school
course. w. s. b.
SaUdnnah, oct. 9, 1885.