Originally posted by slappy115you make a very good point. i mostly agree. and sure as hell latin should be thought as an optional. if you don't want it don't take it. my problem is when someone forces me to learn latin when they could teach me chinese or arabic, something i might actually use someday.
So what I am gathering is that since you can't use a subject on a daily basis, it is pointless to take. That is completely and utterly rediculous to think that way. Basically, we should also get rid of the sciences since they really aren't practical. Who cares what the endoplasmic reticulum is or that Argon is a noble (inert) gas or energy is concerned ...[text shortened]... of you spotted that and I am merely a humble planner.
I'll get off my soap box now.
the sciences are usefull because they can't be replaced. and even in sciences there are choices. a kid only learns newtonian physics and leaves the relativity or quantum physics for students.
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Originally posted by TrokairBut learning any foreign language is an ideal basis for those who later on want to study another one. However, wouldn't learning a dead language first cut down on the number of students who want to learn a living language, since their learning language as a mechanical puzzle rather than as a tool for communication? In fact, the languages I took in school made it easier for me to understand Latin when I was exposed to it. I do agree that it should be a high school option for those who are interested in it.
I don't think every school should offer latin, but a nationwide (or state-wide) school program should, in my opinion, make it an available (even preferable) option to students.
It is an ideal basis for those who later on want to study one or more Roman languages (French/Italian/Spanish/...), and for many academical endeavors, a basic knowledge of Latin ca ...[text shortened]... e of latin in the history of the Anglo-Saxon and European culture make it a clear-cut favorite.
Originally posted by ZahlanziHowever, the sciences may be useful but they are not necessary to get by from a day to day basis. Also, every other subject is useful and can't be replaced. They may have different uses but they are all useful.
the sciences are usefull because they can't be replaced. and even in sciences there are choices. a kid only learns newtonian physics and leaves the relativity or quantum physics for students.
The real question is one of opportunity cost, not utility. Latin may be useful to learn in the same way that all knowledge helps us build on it to learn new and useful things. The same applies to everything you can possibly learn in school. But should students be learning Latin to the exclusion of living, useful languages which help American competitiveness and are vital to trade and international relations, like Mandarin or Farsi? If you want to be a linguist, maybe. But European languages are a. Only half rooted in Latin and b. Increasingly becoming obsolete.
Originally posted by wittywonkaHaving slept through 5 years of high school Latin myself, where to this day, I couldn't tell you much of what I learnt except for amo amas amat, and bellum bellum bellum, I can only offer this bit of rhyme.
At my school, Latin is offered as a course for junior high and senior
high students. Although Latin has improved my vocabulary and
understanding of English grammar, should
schools offer Latin as a course?
"Latin's a dead language as dead as dead can be, its killed off all the Romans and now its killing me"
Originally posted by kmax87Five years of high school, huh? No wonder you didn't learn anything...😛
Having slept through 5 years of high school Latin myself, where to this day, I couldn't tell you much of what I learnt except for amo amas amat, and bellum bellum bellum, I can only offer this bit of rhyme.
"Latin's a dead language as dead as dead can be, its killed off all the Romans and now its killing me"
Originally posted by scottishinnzMy favorite parallel is with push-ups. I mean, why should any athlete do pushups? There is no point. There is no gold medal for 'push-ups'. There are no professional push-up teams. Weight-lifting -- well, obviously weight-lifters need to do it (i.e. professionals) -- but why should anyone else lift weights? Useless, right?
I like this question actually.
However, the same could be said for many subjects. History, for example. Most people aren't going to be professional historians, and most have no day to day need for a knowledge of fascist Italy during World War II - so, should we scrap history as a subject? Perhaps calculus should be relegated to the scrap heap too ...[text shortened]... language. I didn't study Latin at school, although in hindsight, I probably should have...
Mental exercise makes you smarter.
Originally posted by mancityboyGaudeamus igitur (iuvenes dum sumus) - Therefore, let us rejoice. (while we are young)
Sulum bulla Latin. Is amplio suum lingua solers. Ceterus res est ut ego studio is quod is eram ferreus , sic sulum permitto pariter!!
Or as they say on the street... "Party On Dude!"
Also the title of a fine sf novel. "Gaudeamus" by John Barnes... if I remember correctly.
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.
This is the kind of stuff I had to study at school. Studying things for the intrinsic value is something that the youth of today just don't understand!
Originally posted by ZahlanziYou and how many others? What percentage of people use advanced maths? What percentage of people need to know how to calculate the angle of a triangle?
calculus and math in general is not really useless. for one thing it develops a logical approach to problems. and that is about all the uses it has.
of course there are people who can use calculus. mathematicians, physicists, even economists i think, etc. i am a computer programmer and i always hated math and found it useless. but just now i had to deal with some fourier transforms and calculus would have helped me better understand it.
Wouldn't it be more economical to simply teach those who need it, rather than everyone?
Originally posted by kmax87Well, my teacher in middle school didn't do too bad a job, but my teacher in high school is boring me to death, too...she's so infatuated with it that she's on her own level and doesn't really relate to us as well as she could... 🙁
"Latin's a dead language as dead as dead can be, its killed off all the Romans and now its killing me"
I love the rhyme 🙄
Originally posted by MathurineWhat's the one by Catullus about the beast with three backs?
Hic porcellus ivit ad tabernas,
sed hic porcellus mansit domi.
Hic porcellus edit bubulam,
Sed hic porcellus edit nullam.
Et hic porcellus flevit, "Vii, Vii, Vii"
Per totam viam domum.
Yes. Greek, too (at about a year behind.)