[sitetest]

Dear BlackElk,

"Promise me also that the students will learn diligently the languages of Latin and Greek,..."

These languages are making a comeback in a big way in Catholic schools.

When I went to school in the 1970s, my high school offered French and Spanish.

Today, it offers French and Spanish. And German. And maybe Italian, next year. And... Latin and Greek.

My 7th grade son has been picking up Latin in his spare time, and, I suppose in an attempt to get him to commit for 9th grade, my alma mater has invited him to come take Latin there a year early in his 8th grade year. He's now very motivated to work all the harder on his Latin, as they've promised to evaluate him this summer to see if he could start with Latin II.

Although it's a little early, he's giving some thought to a Classics major for college. I think it's a splendid idea.


sitetest

[BlackElk]

Fr. Robert Henle, SJ, wrote and published through Loyola University Press (Chicago) a four volume (about 600 pages per volume) high school Latin set, called simply: Latin and a separate book of Latin Grammar in 1942 or so. These books were soooo good that they are STILL in print 54 years later from Loyola Univeristy Press in hardcover and softcover. Hardcover is worth the investment in permanent things. It was also common to supplement this excellent set with translation of Caesar's Gallic Wars in sophomore year, Cicero's Orations in junior year and the entire 360 page Virgil's Aeneid in senior year. Meanwhile Xenephon's Anabasis was translated beginning in sophomore Greek classes.

I believe you live in Maryland and possibly in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. If so, rigorously check the theology texts. Allan Keyes has had some serious dustups with Cardinal Keeler over toleration and even encouragement of lesbianism at a Loyola Girls' High School in Baltimore. You are local and probably better informed than I but, as Ronaldus Maximus used to say: Trust but verify!

God bless you and yours!