Tom Holland, the award-winning author and host of The Rest Is History podcast, stated, 'It's very difficult to get a handle on vast swathes of the humanities if you don't have some knowledge of Latin. A lot of English literature is saturated with knowledge of Latin. It's really important to understand the history of art, and the language of the church is written in Latin.' This highlights the importance of Latin beyond just language, as it connects to literature, art, and broader humanities.
Holland continued, emphasizing the risks of educational inequality, saying, 'It's seen as precious because it is exclusive. And that's why it's important Latin isn't kept in a posh ghetto. If it becomes ghettoised, it's not just that the study of Latin or classics is being closed off to people who can't afford to pay for it. It's saying that the study of history and literature and art are for posh dilettantes. Is that really what the government wants to say?'
School leaders, scholars, and authors are urging the Department for Education to reconsider their decision, recognizing the broad impact on over 8,000 pupils taking Latin. The cuts will remove funding for Latin teachers in non-selective state schools, leading to a significant loss in educational resources for students interested in pursuing the subject.
Collection
[
|
...
]