Cambridge disc arrives

Latin, anyone? (Guardian
October 4th)

After a three-year delay, the £4.5m government-funded Latin Software Project has
finally been launched. Developed by Cambridge University academics to encourage more
secondary pupils to study Latin, the software hit incompatibility problems with some
school systems when introduced in 2002.

It has been tested at over 50 schools over the past five years and includes films,
tests and a range of interactive games. Software trials have shown encouraging
increases in student numbers taking Latin at GCSE. Will Griffiths, director of the
School Classic Project, who developed the project's content, says: “There's been a
problem with a contract the DfES gave about five years ago for the creation of e-
learning materials, but they are three years behind schedule. It's very late and it's
tied in with the wider problems that Latin is facing. There doesn't seem to be any
shortage of students who want to take GSCE Latin.”

Great book – but look at the price.

I subscribed to OUP's newsletter some time ago, mainly so that I could draw your attention to books I thought might be useful in school. This one would be great to have around for reference, but at £80 the average Classics department would have to think twice about buying it. Anyhow, here are the details:

The Roman Government of Britain

Anthony R. Birley

NEW EDITION

• All the ancient evidence for Roman rule in Britain is quoted, translated, and discussed, making this the fullest available collection of sources.
• There is a particular focus on the hundreds of individuals who worked for Rome in Britain, offering fascinating insights into the personalities of these servants of the Empire

29 September 2005 | £80.00 | Hardback | 560 pages
For more details, visit: http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-925237-8

Has anyone seen Trojan Women?

The Actors of Dionysus performed their version of The Trojan Women just down the road from me in Millfield School very recently, and I had to miss it because of visiting a friend in hospital.

I was sorry to have missed it, partly because I wanted to put a review on the blog. If you have seen this production and have anything to say about it, please either register and add a comment here, or email me if it's easier on david@REMOVETHISparsonsd.co.uk