Let's keep Latin in Billings schools

Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 12:00 am

I'm a sophomore at Billings Senior High School, and I'm currently enrolled in Latin 2 taught by Tom Feeley. After this year, Latin will no longer be offered.

This amazes me. I have only taken one full year of Latin, but I've already noticed significant improvements in many other subjects...

This phenomenon has been long known and long reported.  I worked for two years at Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, of Wauconda, Illinois, the largest U.S. publisher of Greek and Latin Student text books.  All foreign language students out-scored (on average) on their SATs non-language students, but students of Latin scored "off the charts" better, in both verbal and mathematics, almost 100 points higher in each subject than non-language students. This is highly significant.

...In Latin, we focus on etymology (the study of the meanings of Latin words and their English derivates). Weekly, in honors biology, we take a roots quiz. Almost every root has previously been brought up in Latin. Latin also helps me in English and history. We not only learn about words, but we learn about Rome and the culture from which Latin came.

Latin is extremely beneficial not only in high school, but in college and in life after college. It can be used frequently in English, Spanish and other languages that are based on Latin. Latin isn't easy to learn, but Mr. Feeley makes it easy to understand, and a high percentage of his students win national Latin awards every year. Mr. Feeley is a wonderful teacher who is passionate, knowledgeable and excited about what he teaches, and Senior High is lucky to have him.

French and German are taught at Senior High. These are useful if the student moves to where these languages are spoken, but Latin is beneficial no matter where a person lives. In many cities in the United States, Latin is required curriculum starting in grade school. Please keep Latin in Billings schools!

Marilee Beal
Billings