Now here is Latin for All!

At a Bronx School, Latin Is the Root of All Learning
By JOSEPH BERGER
Published: November 29, 2006 New York Times
At the Bronx Latin School, one of New York’s multiplying number of small themed public middle and high schools, Latin is what Alfred Hitchcock used to call the MacGuffin: a plot device that grabs our attention while [...]

Isn't it strange how exclusivist the Guardian is about Latin

The Guardian has jumped on the Amo amas amat bandwagon – and let's welcome publicity for Latin – with a piece by one Charlotte Higgins. Read the article.
Unfortunately she has entered into the elitist world of Harry Mount, and chooses to talk, not just to the author, but also to a teacher from St Francis [...]

Something new for Classical Civilisation – with your input

When I taught Classical Civilisation I had to issue a mini-library of books and booklets to cover the syllabus.
I think the situation is much the same still.
Now an initiative comes from the Cambridge Classics Project (do these folk never take a break?) to devise and produce a complete Class Civ course for British schools.
The man [...]

Why we are a new nation of Latin lovers

An article in The Herald about growth in interest in Latin in Great Britain mentions the Mount book, which is in the news, but also Minimus, which is good. Strangely, it does not mention the role of the Cambridge Latin Course and its e-learning side in bringing Latin to schools, to many for the first [...]

Yet another article comparing the fall of the Roman Empire with USA

There are so many articles these days coming out of America comparing the present state of the American project with the later years of the Roman Empire that I normally don't trouble this blog's readers with them. This one, however, begins the comparison with a lament over an alleged fall in educational standards, so you [...]

A Spectator article and a reply

Here is the start of an article published on 11th November in The Spectator:
And another thing
Remember your Latin? Don't all speak at once!
Paul Johnson
An optimist, listing for me the reasons that the deplorable state of the world is not quite as bad as we think, cited, as one of them, ‘the Latin revival’. Oh, is [...]

That TV programme on Latin in Newham primary schools – get the DVD

A friendly email from Will Griffiths this afternoon:

Hi David,
Thanks for your note about the primary Latin that is flourishing in Newham. I'm not sure when the programme is now due to be broadcast (it was scheduled for 4th December, but has been moved). [Late news: see below - DP] However, if anyone would like their
own [...]

Harrius Potter et camera secretorum

Excitement this morning when the postman left an unexpected parcel, which turned out to be Harrius Potter et camera secretorum, due to be published in January. I don't know why I was favoured with a copy, but suspect that a review here on the blog is what is required. Which I'll be glad to write, [...]

After the International Bac., the pre-U. Are A levels on the way out?

Eton leads charge to dump A levels
Alexandra Frean, Education Editor
# Schools back new 'Pre-U' diploma
# Pupils face return to final exams
Times Online
Eton College is leading a rebellion that could result in it dropping A levels in favour of an alternative examination system with no coursework and tougher questions.
Tony Little, Eton Head Master, said that “Pre-U” [...]

Book about Ramillies

I pass this on, in case it tickles your fancy.

An invitation to subscribe
to a short book commemorating the 300th anniversary
of the battle of Ramillies, 1706
Our book consists of commemorations in prose and verse by a number of
contributors: there are new poems in English and Latin (with explanations
in English!), and new essays on [...]