The Importance of Latin in the Curriculum Essay examples

The Importance of Latin in the Curriculum My memories of Latin in high school are less than fond. I remember slouching in my chair, staring blankly at my desk as I tried to remember the form of the word agricola (farmer) in the ablative plural. Much of the class consisted of mundane activities like this. We translated endless Bible passages from Latin, translated what seemed like the entire body of Greek mythological literature, and read hundreds of lines from The Aneid, The Odyssey, and The Iliad. I signed up for Latin because I was considering going into medicine, and I had heard that doctors need to know Latin. As high school progressed, though, a medical career seemed less and less likely so it appeared I had no real use†¦show more content†¦Until the Reformation, church services were conducted using only Latin. One of the key principles of the Protestant movement was that the entire Christian message, Scripture included, should be made accessible to the common folk in their own tongue (Hammond 243-4). The Catholic Church also began to use the vernacular for its homilies during the Counter-Reformation for similar reasons (Smith 32). The switch from Latin to the common tongues did not occur overnight, though. In fact, the Catholic Church mandated that Mass be spoken only in Latin until the bishops of the second Vatican Council voted to make the switch in 1962 (Waquet 47). For hundreds of years it remained a key part of the education from middle school to college of those students that were fortunate enough to get one. Latin was taught so that students could read ancient religious, philosophical, and dramatic texts in their original language (Smith 27). By reading these texts in their original tongue, students would gain â€Å"the key to the superior wisdom of the Ancient World and to the piety of the Christian Fathers† (Smith 27-8). When these privileged students entered college before the decline of Latin, they entered a deeply Latin world. Upon entering the building, they would see Collegium inscribed above the door, their classrooms would be labeled sexta, quinta, quarta, and the teacher would lec ture in Latin. In fact, students were required to converse only in Latin during freeShow MoreRelatedThe Reign Of The Carolingian Dynasty1429 Words   |  6 PagesMiddle Ages. Although there were various Carolingian rulers who aided these advances, it is fair to say that Carolingian developments reached their peak during the reign of Charlemagne, a leader and reformer of the church who fully appreciated the importance of learning and education. Throughout his reign, he established himself, as a ruler, and his empire as an example that subsequent Kings of the Middle Ages would aim to obtain and uphold. In addition, Charlemagne created a cultural legacy that allowedRead MoreEssay On The MA IB Degree864 Words   |  4 Pagesnot all the offered International Business degrees fulfil these expectations, for instance, some prefer to teach the main modules in German. Coming back to the MA.IB, this postgraduate programme is a striking example of a complete international curriculum. That is to say a totally international atmosphere (around 50% of all students own an international degree), as well as the multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual approach. Not to mention the possibility to obtain a double degree in cooperation withRead MoreShakespsear867 Words   |  4 PagesWhen Shakespeare was a kid going to grammar school, a school open to boys only by the way! they learned Latin, Greek and rhetoric, persuasion through logical argument. Students read Latin and Greek writers to learn about the history of ancient Greece and the glory that was Rome† and this material was translated by them into English or French after many hours of work. Im glad the school curriculum of the 21 st century has evolved and we no longer spend our days doing boring stuff like that! Their old-fashionedRead MoreThe Impact Of Medieval Europe On Education1286 Words   |  6 Pagespossibilities, and a lot of freedom for the student to pick. The importance of education is found in many cultures, but where did it all begin? Medieval Europe started many ideals about education that would have a powerful effect on many different forms of education around the world. Medieval Europe birthed the very first institutions in which students could collectively learn the same information. 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ThisRead MoreJustification of a Scheme of Work Essay1589 Words   |  7 Pagesyears. It is merely a breakdown of the whole programme into smaller chunks based on your frequency of your meetings with learners. (Wilson Practical Teaching 2008 p68) The selection and sequencing of topics reflect on the 6218 curriculum set by the awarding body, the curriculum is a Basic Construction Skills course built around various practical tasks for which there are unit credits attached to obtain the qualification. I first begin with easier tasks leading up to more advanced tasks as the courseRead MoreCurriculum Development1575 Words   |  7 PagesCurriculum Development The term curriculum originates from the Latin meaning â€Å"race course†. The term has been expanded and today is more widely used in education to mean a plan for a sustained process of teaching and learning (Pratt, 1997, p. 5). There are numerous formats for curriculum models. They can be deductive, meaning â€Å"they proceed from the general (examining the needs of society, for example) to the specific (specifying instructional objectives, for example)†, or inductiveRead MoreEssay on Comparative Education Project1269 Words   |  6 PagesMalmesbury, Lichfield, Hereford and Worcester. ï‚ § 776  Alcuin established school at York. ï‚ § 1016  Canute became king of England: concerned about the education of poor boys. ï‚ § 1066  Norman invasion: French replaced English as vernacular medium for teaching Latin. ï‚ § 1096  Oxford: evidence of teaching. ï‚ § 1209  Cambridge: scholars arrived from Oxford. ï‚ § 1249  Oxford: University College established, followed by Balliol 1260, Merton 1264. History 1300-1800 ï‚ §    ï‚ § 1384  Grammar school opened at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire: