From yearbook to club newsletters, many schools around the nation host a wide variety of publications that give its students the opportunity to express their love of something through writing and graphic design. Students at my school, Saint Stephen’s, wanted to use this commonality to express their love for language and culture. They created one of the only high school publications in the United States deemed a ‘linguistic magazine;’ and now, ten years later, it boasts on-theme articles with translations ranging from Japanese to Czech to yes, you guessed it, Latin and Greek.
Although The View’s original purpose wasn’t centered around the classics, it has become a way in which students in these classes at the school are able to show others that Latin and ancient Greek are not 'dead languages;' works titled “The Aqueducts of Rome” and “Making Waves in Medicine: Hippocrates” instead show that the principles of the Roman and Greek world are instrumental in understanding our society today.
Not only is the magazine important in educating many about the classical world, but its middle school component helps young students, especially young JCLers, attempt to write “as the Romans did.” As an editor for the Latin articles, I’ve had students tell me their troubles in deciding whether to employ the ablative or the dative case, the indicative or subjunctive mood, and the active or passive voice; however, even after struggling with the inflective language, they express, through wide eyes, a sense of accomplishment for using what they’ve learned in class. The View has given these young JCLers the opportunity to feel pride for their enthusiasm in Latin and Greek, which they will carry with them throughout high school and beyond.
I am extremely grateful to be part of such a program, and I hope more schools out there will find ways to carry out the JCL’s message and encourage students to combine their creative skills with their love for these ancient civilizations.
The View:
The View:
"...students in these classes at the school are able to show others that Latin and ancient Greek are not 'dead languages'"
"The View has given these young JCLers the opportunity to feel pride for their enthusiasm in Latin and Greek."
ENCOURAGING
CLASSICS
AT MY SCHOOL
Annie Class, FJCL Parliamentarian
Chapter Recap
Article: Ellie Park
Photos: Richenelle Isip
Saturnalia Celebrations
Saturnalia Celebrations
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