By Sam Skopp
St. Martin of Tours School, which teaches grades TK-8, has integrated Latin and Classical Studies into its middle school curriculum, having found an education in Latin to contribute to a stronger and more well-rounded students.
According to Vice Principal Debbie Margulis, the benefits of learning Latin are numerous. English, for example, is better appreciated by Latin students due to a deeper understanding of grammar and a familiarity with classical allusions in English-language literature. Latin students also have reported greater success with foreign languages in high school.
“Latin helps with English vocabulary as about 70 percent of English words are derived from Latin,” said Margulis.
Data gathered by the College Board in 2015 has also shown that students who study Latin score higher on the Critical Reading and Writing portions of the SAT than students of eight other languages, with average Critical Reading scores of 680, and average Writing scores of 676. These scores are 46 points and 39 points higher than the next highest language respectively.
At St. Martin of Tours School, classics education begins in sixth grade, when students are given a National Mythology Exam which includes both a standard 30 question test, as well as a 10 question literary sub-test on one of six mythological traditions, three of which are Classics-based. Furthermore, Latin Language education spans grades 6-8.
In seventh and eighth grades, students take the National Junior Classical League Latin Exams. This is a 40 question, multiple choice test which includes grammar, comprehension, mythology, derivatives, literature, Roman life, history, geography, oral Latin, and Latin in use in the modern world. The test is given at varying difficulty levels; seventh graders are required to take the Introduction to Latin test, while eighth graders are given the Latin I test. St. Martin’s students earn top honors.
For more information about St. Martin of Tours school, visit smtschool.net.
