Another newspaper articles suggesting that it's finally cool to take Latin:
In Erie and Niagara counties, more students took the Regents Latin exam in 2003 than in either of the previous two years, state data shows...
After several decades of being decidedly out of fashion - and 2,000 years after it was actually spoken - the Latin language is becoming popular again in Western New York and around the country.
Part of that popularity can be chalked up to the fact that savvy students and parents have realized that knowledge of Latin helps boost standardized test scores - including on the SATs, where a grasp of Latin could be the edge that sets a college-bound student apart...
At Nichols School, 129 students - out of 587 total students - take Latin, said Kerry Bennett Fox, junior dean and one of three Latin teachers at the school.
"That's a great percentage," said Fox. "It's just cool to take Latin. It seems like it's just getting bigger and bigger."
Back in January of this year, we saw a similar report (my more Devoted Readers may even remember why Latin seemed like a practical language to me). Apparently, Latin is no longer for the "elite," now that parents are starting to understand it's value (mine certainly didn't). As far as teaching jobs go, Latin teachers can barely get out of their student teaching classrooms before schools come looking for them:
That's what happened to Marissa Valetich in January. Before she had even finished her student teaching, Valetich, 23, a University at Buffalo student, got a phone call from the Sweet Home Central School District. They were desperate for a new Latin teacher to fill a vacancy.
Valetich said yes. The district petitioned the state Education Department for a special variance so it could hire her even though she hadn't finished earning her teaching certification. These days, Valetich teaches about 50 students, ranging from beginners to AP students.
And she confesses to being somewhat old-fashioned in her teaching methods - a bit of a drill sergeant. "This class is very structured," Valetich said with a laugh. "The kids kind of flip out when I say, "You have to have this stuff memorized.' Those old-fashioned drills? I personally like them. And my kids learn those forms."
Thank you, Miss Valeteich, for not "modernizing" your instruction of this beautiful old language.
Posted by kswygert at April 26, 2004 03:53 PM