Behl: Why Latin matters
Letter to the editor
I think when studying a subject such as Latin that doesn’t feel as immediately applicable to “real life” as some other subjects (though I dare say I make more use of my Latin knowledge every day than I do calculus…), one is reminded of the key purposes of education: to cultivate virtue, to learn to think deeply, to master a body of skills and knowledge, to steward a tradition and the very soul of a civilization.
The study of Latin serves as a window into the past, certainly, but also a mirror we can hold up to the present. We develop diligence and patience as we grapple with vocabulary and grammatical forms. We learn humility and prudence as we decipher and dialogue with ancient yet timely ideas and traditions. And we cultivate gratitude and hope, as we see humanity as it has been, even as we dream of what it can be. Practically, this means that as we learn grammar and vocabulary in Latin and English, our ability to effectively and eloquently communicate our thoughts grows. We translate and discuss many genres of literature, from history to poetry, from law and political speeches to mythology, and from religious texts to philosophy. This exposure is not only good in and of itself, but it also allows us to trace ideas and themes throughout history up to the modern moment. We can move forward more confidently and virtuously due to this greater familiarity with our civilization’s past and development.
For the past 13 years, I have had the pleasure of serving as a tour guide of our civilization’s foundations as much as a teacher of the Latin language. It is a great joy and privilege to pass on what I received as a child, beginning my study of Latin in 6th grade and Greek in 10th grade. I continued to study classics as an undergrad at UF while also studying philosophy, religion, and history, ultimately earning a Master’s in History from the same institution. Since graduating, in addition to teaching, I have been working with Gator Christian Life, a ministry on campus at UF, mentoring college students and helping them wrestle with life’s biggest challenges. Marissa and I have been married for 10 years and have seven sons. My hope is to be an excellent husband, father, teacher, and community member. I think being rooted in the classical world – in the complements and tensions of Athens and Jerusalem – will provide a strong foundation for those endeavors.
The Frazer School Latin students had a great showing at the Florida Junior Classical League’s State Forum. The forum consists of academic competitions in the form of written tests and a quiz bowl style called certamen, creative competitions ranging from models to declamations to game design, and even athletic competitions, a talent show, and tabling at the forum’s bazaar. Despite this being our school’s first year and our students only being able to compete in the novice categories, they acquitted themselves with aplomb.
Westin Martin took first in the mystery test, 2nd in the classical mythology test, 3rd in the classical mythology test, and 7th in novice certamen.
Chaitanya Kollu took 5th in the grammar 1 test and 7th in novice certamen.
Alexis Eldred came in 2nd in game design.
Lorien Johnson took 3rd in grammar 1 and 9th in classical mythology.
Nivedita Narasimhan came in 10th on the Roman customs exam, and her model of a Roman Bathhouse and Domus took first prize.
I viewed this State Forum as Frazer School Latin dipping their toes in the water to see if the students would enjoy competing, as this competition is different than the math, science, debate, and robotics competitions we are known for. The students took great initiative in preparing, and their hard work paid off. I am incredibly proud of how well they performed and impressed with their commitment and diligence that enabled that performance. They are already talking about how they can excel still more next year. I’d say the future of Frazer Latin looks bright.
Bryan Behl, Latin teacher at the Frazer School
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While taking 2 years of Latin in junior high decades ago, our teacher emphasized how Latin gives us a better understanding of the English language. Incidentally, this Latin teacher had been named Mrs. Florida.
English is about 40 percent Latin. It is also the core of all the Romance languages. I would say knowing Latin is a sign of a keen mind.
Bryan, Alachua County could use a thousand teachers with your disposition.
” I think being rooted in the classical world – in the complements and tensions of Athens and Jerusalem – will provide a strong foundation for those endeavors.”
I’m not sure what you mean by that, but I hope it relates to your enduring faith, as the age of social media is diminishing many of the principles you are trying to teach.
Bravo. Keep sharing the gift of classical antiquity.
I may have misunderstood the writer’s intention in emphasizing the teaching of Latin, but I do recognize in his words a concept that is very dear to my heart: Education has but a limited value to young people if it concentrates entirely on subjects that may be considered ‘relevant’ in the workplace. Reading, writing and basic arithmetic skills are, surely, essential in today’s world, and for the foreseeable future. But Latin? Calculus? Algebra? Why these things? Because, in my opinion, Education should not be simply about those skills that may seem important today. Education should be a process of teaching young people how to learn about new things: things that may BECOME meaningful later in their life. Education (and we started by talking about Latin) means ‘a leading out’ or ‘a showing of the way’. We are all born with a vast curiosity (“Why is the sky blue?”), but at present we don’t build on that vast inquisitiveness; we restrict it to subjects that we THINK may be appropriate in tomorrow’s job market. Far better, I think, to encourage in young people the desire to learn, for the sheer fun of it. I must confess that I don’t know how to do this on a global scale, but I do believe that ‘teachers’ should become ‘educators’. An additional note: if you want to learn to speak Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or French, a background in Latin is very, very helpful.