Why should a student choose to study Latin?

Classics at Fettes College

At its height, the Roman Empire was twice as large as the European Community. As we, at the start of the 21st century, realise the benefits of closer links with Europe, it is even more important to appreciate our common European heritage. Although the Romans abandoned Britain in AD410, their influence can still be felt. Their literature, law and language have all had a part to play in the development of our culture. Likewise, the artistic and architectural achievements of the Greeks are much in evidence, especially here in Edinburgh, the "Athens of the North".

Calton Hill

There has been a strong tradition of Classics at Fettes for 130 years and we believe that Classics is still an important part of an academic education. Latin and Greek are taught at all levels throughout the school, with many Oxbridge successes. You will no longer hear the strains of "amo amas amat" being chanted in remote corners of the school. The emphasis is on reading confidently and fluently with a view to studying classical literature in the original and reaching the roots of European culture.

What Do Classicists Do?
"But what do classicists do? You are not trained to do anything!" is a common cry. Far from it. The skills necessary to be a successful classicist are much sought after by employers who value the mental precision, rigorous discipline and analytical powers of classicists. Many find employment in the legal profession and Civil Service and over half of Classics graduates each year go into financial work and industry.

For more details
Substantial scholarships are available for potential classicists. Details of these and more information about Classics at Fettes can be obtained from the Head of Classics.

Our Mission

The Classics department at Fettes is committed to teaching Latin and Greek to a high standard and in every level of a pupil's career at Fettes, starting at the first year of the Prep school and carrying through to the 6th form into the senior school. We believe that everybody is to benefit from the rigorous demands of these languages and that the intellectual demands they place on individuals make them a challenge for any pupil who is fascinated by the languages and histories of the Greek and Roman civilisations. We follow the 5-14 curriculum in the early years and offer GCSEs and A Levels (AS and A2).The Classics department at Fettes is committed to teaching Latin and Greek to a high standard and in every level of a pupil's career at Fettes, starting at the first year of the Prep school and carrying through to the 6th form into the senior school. We believe that everybody is to benefit from the rigorous demands of these languages and that the intellectual demands they place on individuals make them a challenge for any pupil who is fascinated by the languages and histories of the Greek and Roman civilisations. We follow the 5-14 curriculum in the early years and offer GCSEs and A Levels (AS and A2). We will also offer the IB from 2006. The full complement of Classical Civilisation at GCSE and A Levels is offered too.

RESULTS

5th Form: 95% A-A*

Lower Sixth: 100% A

Upper Sixth: 100% A

· Latin Grammar is the Best Grounding for Education
Unlike their parents, your school aged children have time to devote to acquiring a skill that will last them a lifetime. But why should they learn Latin? Dorothy Sayers says it best:

I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labour and pains of learning almost any other subject by at least 50 percent.
-- From the National Review.

· Help with English grammar.
While neither the language nor grammar of English derives from Latin, many of our grammatical rules do. For instance, since you CAN'T have a dangling preposition in Latin, it is considered bad form in English.

Why kids should learn Latin

· Makes You More Careful in English
In Latin you have more to worry about than whether a plural pronoun refers to a singular noun (as in the politically correct - grammatically incorrect: each student has their own workbook). In Latin there are seven cases with which not only pronouns, but adjectives -- not to mention verbs -- must agree. Learning such rules makes the student careful in English.

But more important is the fact that traditional study of Latin starts out with a grammatical framework.... As UK students begin Latin, they become acquainted with the "Latin grammar" system, which they can indirectly transfer to their work in English. What it gives them is a standardized set of terms in which to describe words in relations to other words in sentences, and it is this grammatical awareness which makes their English writing good.
· Enhances vocabulary:
Fatuous pedants agglomerate abstruse vocabularies to obfuscate meaning.

Language should facilitate -- not eliminate -- communication. However, an enhanced vocabulary will help in reading and conversation.

· Introduces logic
This is a traditional reason.

	Language affects how we think
	Latin is the language of law

· Reveals how similar we all are.
"The social documentary approach."

From deploring the current standards of morality to advice given by popular psychologists, Latin reveals how little new there is under the sun. Terence said long ago that nothing human was uninteresting to him, and now that we have a developed sense of social relevance, we can find fascinating information about that elusive fellow--Man----in all ancient documents. Human condition two thousand years ago was similar to our world but very different, and it is the varying formula for the degree of difference which makes social studies in ancient society fascinating.

good reasons to learn Latin:

	Give yourself a better understanding of grammar- English as well as French and Spanish.
	Learn about an ancient culture.
	Develop and expand your vocabulary.
	Acquaint yourself with mythical references in literature.
	Learn words used in medicine, law, and pharmacy.

Contact Information

Dr Tasos Aidonis
Telephone: 0131 3322280
FAX: 0131 3322281
Postal address: Carrington Road
Electronic mail: a.aidonis@fettes.com