Show t. t EDUCATIONAL The Place of the Classics WHAT WHA r place should the study of the classics hold in the college curriculum On what grounds can Greek and Latin claim any place Why have they retained retained retained re re- a place for so many years Before Before Before Be Be- fore attempting to answer the first question question question ques ques- tion let John Stuart Mill answer the second and third The study of the humanities is not to make skilful lawyers or physicians or engineers but capable and cultivated human beings What is the purpose of all ed education cation if not to make capable and cultivated human beings The most radical opponent opponent opponent op op- of the classIcs must accept any aid however weak toward the attainment attainment attainment attain attain- ment of capability and culture therefore therefore therefore there there- fore on this ground the the classics h haVe ve right to a place The consistent opponent opponent opponent op op- will admit at least a minimum amount of capability and culture from the study of class classics s or Greek and Latin would have been discarded in the reaction reaction reaction tion after the Renaissance Such however however however how how- ever ever was was' not the case Greek and Latin have held their own firmly despite the attacks made made- against them brought on fi 10 through incompetency deficiency of requisite knowledge of teachers and un- un pedagogical methods of teaching The Humanists as not infrequently happens in a new pursuit carried the study of classical literature to a dangerous danger danger- ous length in consequence came the reaction reaction reaction tion from the Humanist ideal of education education education tion to tike the Philanthropic which was a change from the abnormal study of the classics to that of such branches as mathematics s physics etc but Greek and Latin were still retained they could not be discarded be-discarded since from them was derived the terminology of science and another reason equally as important why instruction was retained in the Latin especially was the fact that from it had sprung the Romance languages Admitting Admitting Admitting Ad Ad- that from their long domination of all in all in education the classics became became became be be- came only a part of the curriculum the pronounced awakening of interest in the study of Greek and Latin during the past two years is significant whether this revival is only spasmodic depends largely on the methods pursued in teach teach- ing That the classics have retained their hold hold is incontrovertible proof that they have at least with a decree of success performed their mission What more have other subjects done Then thus far the stand shoulder to shoulder with other subjects If it can be demonstrated that other branches of education have done more let the classics classics classics clas clas- take second place The complaint is made by objectors to the classics that soon after leaving school the Greek and Latin student forgets forgets forgets for for- gets all his Greek and Latin if if- he ever had any that the studies are of no working working working work work- ing value to him he cannot read Latin cannot analyze words knows little of their etymology I qu question stion the state state- ment What of his higher mathematics physics chemistry y How much of these subjects ts does he ret retain in 1 but ut putting int into actual practice Let the average individual individual individual indi indi- 1 vidual who is not a as specialist or a teach teacher er teach-er answer answer for himself Which is the student more likely to continue his Latin Lahn or the physical sciences From a practical point of view he will do little with wit the latt latter from a lack of facilities while books are alway available He will r read ad How v far will h he proceed on the page before meeting w with th studied previously-studied Greek or Latin derivatives If he does does' not know the meaning which is doubtful his pleasure at their mere recognition will keep his interest awakened and the study of Latin may be continued if only in this desultory fashion From his lofty position as as leader of mankind the classical scholar usually overlooks this strictly practical or utilitarian utilitarian utilitarian ian value of the study study to to him its value is in culture Let us suppose that our pupils pupil's training in college has been of such a nature that his inner soul demands de mands de mands intellectual food viz culture Will he turn to mathematics Not for culture for that deals with things of the mind Do the classics answer this last requirement requirement requirement require require- ment Unquestionably to an unsurpassed unsurpassed unsurpassed passed degree To quote again from the Recter of St. St Andrews who in the most scathing language censures instructors instructors instructors in in- of Greek and Latin for their wretched methods and accuses them of recklessly squandering precious years of pupils school life but even while doing doing doing do do- ing so expresses express s with reverent love how much he and all cultured people are in indebted indebted indebted in- in to the classics he says says' The study of the humanities makes us men menT develops humanity in us to the highest degree Truly nowhere else can the student student student stu stu- dent get such an insight into human nature nature nature na na- ture and wondrous were the heights to which the Greek and Roman mind at at- Where do dowe we find such wisdom wisdom wisdom wis wis- dom culture refinement love love- so pure a of the beautiful as among the Ancients Ancient si What would this modern un-ideal un age be if cut off from all intercourse with such minds as those of Plato Homer Virgil Horace Dante Where but through a study of the dead languages of Greece and Rome can we hold communion communion communion com com- munion with those noble minds of antiquity antiquity antiquity an an- How else learn the true history history history his his- tory the environment the real genius and spirit of the people Through translations As well accept the chemists chemist's chemists chemist's chemists chemist's chem chem- statement that water is isa a a compound of one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen hydrogen hydrogen hy hy- drogen without demonstration through individual experiment or be content with Huxley's word that the porteus animalcule is an animal and changes its form incessantly without subjecting it to chemical test to demonstrate the former or placing the creature creature under the microscope to verify the latter Who is satisfied with the mere data of chemistry of physics of biology What is the object of laboratory work That the student may demonstrate to his own satisfaction that certain statements statements statements state state- ments are true Must the student of the classics be content with less than one of other subjects subjects subjects sub sub- How does he know what interpretation interpretation interpretation inter inter- some translator has read into a passage If the subject matter be philosophy religion the social or political political political po po- conditions of a people may not the translators translator's prejudice color the translations translations translations trans trans- lations It is almost an axiom that all history is fallible through the interpretation tion or misrepresentations of prejudiced commentators Then what of Greek and Latin translations One will perhaps perhaps per per perhaps haps argue that the average pupil willbe will willbe willbe be satisfied with this this we we say as con con- consistently consistently consistently let the average pupil be content content content con con- tent with the clas room class room work of chemistry chemistry chemistry chem chem- and do not consume his precious hours in the laboratory was right when he said We get only the shadow through trans trans- trans trans- lation It is impossible to get the cul cul- p ture without going to the original In 1 ever every language there are thoughts and shades of of feeling that no words of another another an- an other tongue can fully express Were it otherwise why hy so many words brought brought- 3 over directly from one language to another another another an an- an- an other For example what E English glish word can give the full force of the meaning to the Greek the French ennui the I German We might go on ad j y infinitum Col Parker says A knowledge of j each and every language which has t poured its flood of words into English speech reveals als to the learner the otherwise otherwise other other- wise other A wise hidden might of his own vernacular t tand and enhances greatly his power of thought and expression This is especially true of the Greek and Latin languages a certain certain tain amount of which is necessary not only to the satisfactory study of ones one's own J language but that of other languages of the natural and applied sciences of the professions of law and medicine of which the terms a and d phraseology are based on the Latin and far more on the Greek And why on the Greek Because Because Because Be Be- cause it surpasses all other languages in clearness vividness and in power of defining the finest shades of meaning This brings us at once to the disciplinary disciplinary disciplinary dis dis- value of a scientific study of the classics What is scientific study Observation comparison generalization Does the mind follow these steps in the study of Latin What has the student accomplished after reading a dozen l lines nes of Caesar Cassar C sar He has grasped the contents con con- tents tents the the meaning of the passage passage passage-ob- ob observed served the form of the Latin sentence its likeness likeness' to the English but more especially its differences he sees that the subject and predicate the most important important im im- words have the strongest positions positions positions that the modifiers hold an intermediate intermediate intermediate inter inter- mediate and less emphatic place that the mind is is' is held in fn suspense until the close of the sentence H How w curiously delightful Interest the aim tip In of all learning is aroused interest in inthe inthe the sentence both Latin and English He looks again at his own own and and see v beauties hitherto unobserved The chief characteristics of the Latin its conciseness and compactness are pointed out The forceful energetic style is compared with the English He is forced to see words in their relations t he must draw conclusion must exercise C his judgment f Let the student continue this careful r accurate process of training mind-training and f. f the inevitable results are habits of i observation discrimination close accurate tion and ald logical reasoning And what of all that desultory information and references from related subjects such as philology archeology history and art which the earnest efficient teacher constantly constantly constantly con con- imparts The pupil unc unconsciously n- n breathes in the spirit and love loves t. t s 1 for the classics with which the instructor a 4 is imbued the instructor who is is cula cultured cultured cul cul- not through translations but who to t has gained light and inspiration through j c direct communion with the noblest and i best of the past J Here must be noted the educational value of a study of Greek and Latin in in LL relation to the fact that our civilization f is a derived one the student views views the 3 beginning of civilization from the standpoint standpoint stand stand- t point of its originators which is is in- in W dispensable to a thorough knowledge of any subject He sees not only the small beginnings but the marvelously rapid r growth among the Greeks o of science and more especially of art and among the 3 Romans the rise and development of political wisdom law and jurisprudence with ith their broad stable common sense basis In the light of that which has gone jf r befort befort- let the question at the beginning F 41 V of this article now be answered What answered What I. I place should the study of the classics hold in the college curriculum A I Let our own vernacular take prece prece- prece dence always and since there is authority authority author author- ity for saying that the study of the classics classics classics clas clas- is not only an aid to the study of English but is absolutely essential to a satisfactory and intelligent knowledge of our best and most beautiful works let Jet the humanities go hand in hand with English in the preparatory school If as is being demonstrated through improved pedagogical methods of teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing that the student can acquire a considerable considerable considerable con con- power of reading Latin can master Latin Prose in one or two years in the Preparatory School require at least one year in in College At the end of that time let him show and follow his predilections either for the study of nature nature nature na na- ture or the study of man if the former through his knowledge of Greek and Latin the the basis o of scientific nomenclature ture he will be well equipped to satisfactorily satisfactorily satisfactorily satis satis- pursue his chosen subjects if he prefers the latter he will elect the humanities and those kindred kindled subjects which deal with things of the mine which ma make e capable and cultivated human human human hu hu- man beings |