Tip o’ the pileus to Karen Stears on twitter who directed our attention to an interesting blog post at Coming of Age in the Middle which has a nice summary of the ‘other effects’ of learning Latin … definitely one to have nearby for quick reference:

• Verbatim

Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this interesting online journal from the CAMWS folks before, but the latest issue includes three very interesting articles (all pdfs):

• Mark Thorne, Using Manuscripts in the Latin Classroom
• Christine Hahn, Latin in the Homeschooling Community
• Antonia Syson, Reading the Aeneid with intermediate Latin students: the new Focus commentaries (Books 1-4 and 6) and Cambridge Reading Virgil (Books I and II)

… in case you want to peruse the back issues …

Oh oh … Facebook appears to have finally figured me out. This is the first time it has actually sent me a “Trending Article” that actually seems applicable to me … from the Independent:

Latin and Greek GCSEs have lost much of their “intellectual force” and should be replaced by tougher new O-level-style exams, say campaigners.

Students who take the subjects at Oxford receive lessons in basic grammar and syntax because their school education has been so lacking, according to the Parliament Street report. Too often, the report argues, the school syllabus is closer to studying classical civilisation than the language.

“There is (deliberately) no systematic learning of grammar and syntax and emphasis is laid on fast reading of a dramatic continuous story in made-up Latin which gives scope for looking at aspects of ancient life,” it adds. “GCSEs should be replaced by a modern version of the O-level that stretches pupils and does not hamstring them as at present.”

The pamphlet also argues that Latin should be a core part of the curriculum – rather than the preserve of independent and selective state grammar schools, “There is a substantial body of evidence that children who study Latin outperform their peers when it comes to reading, reading comprehension and vocabulary,” pamphlet author, John N Davie, said. Only 13 per cent of state secondary schools in the UK offer Latin.

• via: Latin and Greek ‘should be taught in every school’ – report

… afraid I have to agree on the grammar and syntax part of things …