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|  Why Study Latin?
Latin instruction is offered at all grade levels at Parnassus Preparatory School. All students will take Latin every year in Prima through 1R. Two years of Latin in The School of Rhetoric will be required for graduation. We believe there are at least four solid reasons for classical language study in our school.
The Civilization of Greece and Rome Link us with
Cultures of 57 Nations on Four Continents
A background in the classical civilizations makes students aware of customs, values, and ideas that we have in common with Eastern and Western Europeans and with North and South Americans. Many concepts in government, religion, art, literature, and economics are shared. This cultural kinship of nations underlies such modern alliances as NATO, the British Commonwealth, and the Common Market.
Acquaintance with Ancient Cultures Promotes Tolerance and Understanding of Other Nations and Ways of Life
Aware of the rich and varied culture of the Greeks and Romans, one is more likely to accept the differing customs and values of other peoples today. For in the study of ancient civilizations, one encounters exotic and extreme customs which were not static, but evolved over the centuries. Familiar with diversity, change, and longevity in one’s own culture, a person is more inclined to respect the views, ideologies, religions, and economic systems of foreign peoples and to appreciate their rich age-old traditions.
Latin Develops English and Solid Foundation of Other Languages
One’s reading, writing, and speaking of English is improved through learning Latin. Vocabulary is enriched, grammar is sharpened, and a sense of organization is instilled in the student.
Latin equips our students with the strongest single foundation for mastering Romance Languages, modern inflected ones such as Russian and German, and even non-related tongues like Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. In addition, Latin gives one a grip on about 80% of the vocabulary of the Romance languages – French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish.
Latin Improves College Entrance Exam Scores
Students who study Latin in high school consistently score high on the verbal portion of the SAT college entrance exam than both students who have not studied any foreign language and students who have studied other modern foreign languages.
Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that Latin students consistently outperform all other students on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that Latin students consistently outperform all other students on the verbal portion of the SAT.
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|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Latin |
672 |
674 |
681 |
672 |
678 |
677 |
676 |
678 |
|
All Students |
507 |
508 |
508 |
503 |
502 |
502 |
502 |
501 |
|
French |
638 |
642 |
643 |
637 |
637 |
632 |
631 |
633 |
|
German |
626 |
627 |
637 |
632 |
632 |
627 |
630 |
626 |
|
Spanish |
575 |
575 |
573 |
577 |
574 |
565 |
557 |
561 |
|
Hebrew |
628 |
630 |
620 |
623 |
622 |
611 |
619 |
612 | |
