Latin in the News

It's March and so it's not surprising to see a lot of stories about the Latin language in the news. We have just commemorated the Ides of March (which took place on March 15) and we're gearing up for Rome's birthday on April 21st.

Here's a round-up of recent news stories:

"PLC students battle against Roman empire"

Australian students compete in European CICERO Latin Competition
North Shore Times

March 16, 2010

"BEWARE THE IDES: THS Latin Club recreates Caesar’s funeral march"

Taunton Daily Gazette
March 15, 2010

"Latin Keeps Class Enrapt: Boonville teacher mixes culture, history with language study"

Latin teacher Pamela Koleszar takes proactive measures to keep her Latin program active.

Evansville Courier and Press

March 16, 2010

"Student Spotlight"

Interview with the Colorado Intermediate Level Latin Speaker Film Contest Winner

The Daily Camera
March 13, 2010

In Memoriam, Hans Oerberg 1920-2010

Sad news from Focus Publishing:

Dear all friends and customers of Hans Orberg

I am very sad to announce the death of my beloved father, Hans Henning Orberg. He passed away peacefully, without pains and surrounded by his children on the 17th of February.

Although very weak and disabled in his last month, he was very happy that he managed to finish his "Ars Amatoria" and see it published. He also leaves this world with peace in his mind, confident that his children will carry on his publishing firm, Domus Latina.

The funeral will take place Wednesday the 24th of February at 2 pm in the church of Grenaa: Grenaa Kirke, Torvet 12, 8500 Grenaa, Denmark.

We would be grateful if you would pass on the sad news to friends and customers that you know of and who are not in the mailing list above.

Yours sincerely

Anders Orberg

Post-Bulletin Teacher of the Month

Ellen Sassenberg, who teaches Latin at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota, has been named the Post-Bulletin teacher of the month.

Latin Teacher Named WGN Teacher of the Month October 2009

Erin Flynn of Lincoln Way Centeral High School is the WGN Television Teacher of the Month for October 2009!

 

Learning Latin Lasts a Long Time

A retiree reminisces about what he learned in Latin class over sixty years ago in "Storytelling: Learning from Year of Latin Lasted a Lifetime" (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 28, 2009)

Nicole Curry Named Philadelphia Magazine's 2009 Best of Philly Schools Teacher!

Philadelphia magazine has named Phoenixville Latin Teacher Nicole Curry as its 2009 Best of Philly Schools teacher! Nicole combines a wacky sense of humor with some serious curriculum, Macte virtute esto! ("Well done! Bless you for your excellence!")

Read more about Nicole at Phillymag.com and see a picture of her dressed in a toga!

Bringing Latin Home

Latin is not only enjoying a resurgence in public and private schools across the United States. Many families are choosing to teach their children Latin as a homeschooling subject. Heather Duncan, a homeschooling mom and freelance contributor to the Knoxville News Sentinel writes this week about the growing popularity of Latin among her friends. She also interviews a homeschool co-op educator who teaches nearly 100 Latin students each week! Read more in "Latin A Growing Subject At Home."

In Memoriam Lt. Col. Virginia Sweet, Aviator and Latin Teacher

There's a wonderful story in the Albany (NY) Times-Union today about Lt. Col. Virginia Sweet, who was a pioneer in women's aviation. She was one of World War II's WASP (Women's Air Service Pilots) corps, considered to be civilian pilots at the time and finally given veteran's status in 1977. Apparently, she graduated with a degree in languages from Duke University and the Sorbonne and was a French, Spanish and Latin teacher for many years. It's a really fascinating article, definitely worth reading!

You can read the full feature story, She Left Her Heart in the P-51 at the Albany Times-Union as well as her obituary.

New York State Latin Teachers in the News

Latin Roots Take Hold for Students (Albany Times Union, March 19, 2009) in Upstate New York. Read about the growing enrollments in Latin courses in the Capital region of New York State, where Todd Hutson and Barbara Sugarman teach.

Felicem natalem diem, Dr. Seuss!

Susan Larson, a columnist in the Gwinnett Daily Post, writes a birthday tribute to the creator of the Cat in the Hat (March 1, 2009, There's No Excuse Not to Know Dr. Seuss) which leads her into the classroom of Latin teacher, Robert Patrick, who teaches the ancient language as a living, spoken tongue.

7th Annual National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week

March 2-6, 2009, the first full week of the month.

National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week is sponsored by the American Classical League, the American Philological Assocation, as well as regional and state Classics associations. For more details, visit the Official NLTRW Website. Updated for 2009 are free printable posters (scroll down to find "I Want You to Be a Latin Teacher," "Gladiatrices" and "The Top Ten Reasons to Teach Latin"). There are also several new brochures.

This year Ginny Lindzey, who runs the Anima Altera Cafe Press Shop, has created a wide range of NTLRW 2009 items: professional-quality t-shirts, mini-buttons, mugs, greeting cards, posters, and even yard signs available for purchase at cost, with no additional price mark-up. NLTRW's site has provided links to coupon codes to keep the cost of these items affordable.

Even More Latin Teachers in the News!

According to the Pioneer Press in Minneapolis-St. Paul, "students in Minnesota are clamoring to take Latin classes!" Read Metro Schools Giving Latin Language New Life. (Link no longer active.)

Tbe Fort Myers News-Press (October 29, 2008) reports on a winter resident who teaches Latin via long distance to students in Connecticut in South Fort Myers snowbird teaches long-distance Latin.

Latin Teachers in the News!

A very recent article in the Delta Democrat Times of Greenville, MS, showcases Simmons High School's energetic Latin teacher Austin Walker and his bright and ambitious students. Read Hollandale Students Learn Roman Empire's Language.

Students in inner-city Hackney and other disadvantaged London (UK) boroughs are learning Latin, thanks to the Iris Project and Classics students from University College London and Kings College London. You can read more about this project at the Daily Telegraph in Latin, the Language of Literacy.

Illinois Latin Teacher Brian Tibbets (Monmouth-Roseville High School), has been featured in this week's Galesburg Register-Mail (October 20, 2008) after being awarded the Illinois Classical Conference Latin Teacher of the Year award. Read Latin is Not a Dead Language at MRHS.

Rocktown Weekly has a wonderful story entitled Rident Stolidi Verba Latina ("Fools Laugh at the Latin Language") (Link no longer active) highlighting the elementary school Latin classes taught by Arthur Rogers at Redeemer Classical School in Virginia.

Learning Latin is In Because Latin Teachers are Cool!

So says US News and World Report (October 17, 2008), which reports that "dynamic, enthusiastic educators might actually be the key to the language's surging popularity."

Latin is undoubtedly becoming more and more popular because the quality of teaching is high, the methodology varied, and the content rich, rigorous and relevant. Latin teachers are working hard to inspire and educate their students -- by educating themselves through attendance and participation at American Classical League Institutes and Workshops, conversational Latin Conventicula (several listed here which occur annually and have proven so popular that there are often waiting lists), blogs, online discussions, webinars, increased teacher recruitment, and inspired graduate level training. Then they bring what they've learned into the classrooms. Latin teachers don't always agree upon the best way to teach Latin. There are often spirited disagreements, but this is just evidence that they are continually thinking about ways to expand and improve their teaching skills.

Read Latin Surges in Popularity in the On Education section of this week's magazine online.

Latin Lives in the New York Times!

There's actually some good news in today's newspaper! Read about "A Dead Language That's Very Much Alive" in today's New York Times -- enrollments are up, students are taking the National Latin Exam, and there's even some Latin conversation going on in the classrooms!

Latin Teacher Breathes Life into a Dead Language

Maryland Latin teacher Ruth Ann Besse was recently profiled in her local newspaper, The Gazette. Ruth Ann began teaching Latin in 2002 to her son, but now teaches "part-time" at a local school as well as to a co-op class of homeschoolers. (She's really much too busy to be described as a "part-time" Latin teacher.) Ruth Ann also serves as a North American points of contact for the Primary Latin Project, which promotes the Minimus Latin course, a popular British series. Read more about Ruth Ann and her experiences as a Latin teacher in The Gazette's profile of this energetic teacher (August 28, 2008).

Latin Lives -- in New York City!

Latin is alive and flourishing in New York City, but there is a continued need for certified teachers in the Big Apple, according to Professor Ronnie Ancona, a Latin and Classics professor at Hunter College in Manhattan. This weekend's Staten Island Advance reports that "the market for Latin is very strong in the New York City area."

(Link no longer active): Latin Undergoing a Resurgence Among Students: 'Resquiescat in pace' (rest in peace) no longer seems an appropriate dismissal.

6th Annual National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week 2008

National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week is coming up! This year it will be March 3-7, 2008, which is the first full week in March. The theme for this year is Your Future is Our Future. You can find out more about NLTRW, which is sponsored by the American Classical League, the American Philological Association, and other various regional and local classical organziations by visiting the National Committee for Latin and Greek website. There you can read about past celebrations, get ideas for your own promotions, apply for mini-grants, and more!

Ginny Lindzey has designed a number of extremely cool and very professional promotional items for National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week including t-shirts, mini-buttons, mugs, posters, greeting cards, and yard signs. In addition, the NCLG website has loads of free, downloadable items as well including mini-ads, mini-posters, articles, brochures, flyers, bookmarks and more. Check 'em out! They are mirabile dictu!

Latin Outreach in London, UK

The BBC News reports that inner city students in London will be learning Latin from 15 university students from Kings College and University College of London as part of a project conducted by the Iris Project, directed by Lorna Wing, and sponsored by various classical organizations in the United Kingdom. Teachers and students are responding enthusiastically to the project, which is getting a great deal of positive press coverage.

This is a initiative definitely worth following as it progresses!

Latin Teacher Retires After 30 Years

Gary LeGates, a Maryland Latin teacher, is retiring this year. Read more about his initial job search and outstanding career. (Blind Teacher Could See More Than Most, Examiner, July 14, 2007).