He Came. He Saw. He Cancelled.

On Monday, September 5th, Winchester Thurston crossed the Rubicon.

With one email, Latin, the language of emperors and senators, of poets and philosophers, was sentenced to extinction. No Senate debate, no voting of the tribunes, only a quiet message citing “inconsistent enrollment patterns” and “scheduling challenges.”

They tell us it’s about numbers. 

They tell us it’s about logistics. 

They tell us it’s about us…that we aren’t interested enough.

But we are interested! We have shown up. We have excelled. We have thrived. We have loved Latin. And yet, that love was betrayed. In other words, Latin was stabbed in the back, just not by Brutus.

Oh, Fech, how we’ve fallen.

Our Case for Latin

Take a second and think about these people: 

Mark Zuckerberg, Thomas Jefferson, Tom Hiddleston, Robert Griffin III, Oscar Wilde, and Karl Marx. 

What do these vastly different people have in common? They all studied Latin! 

While deciding which world language to study during high school, you might have heard the rather black-and-white argument that Latin is just a “dead” language, without any practical benefits to learning it. Dead, they say. Yet it lives – in law, in literature, in language itself, in every word we write and say.

Latin serves as the foundation of all Romance languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and most notably, English. The study of Latin opens doors to understanding tens of diverse languages, as well as an improved understanding of English. More than 90% of English words over two syllables come from Latin. Just think about how many words there are!! 60% of all English words have Latin or Greek roots, but 100% percent of WT students would benefit from a Joel Svensson subjunctive lesson.  

In class, Latin students approach the roots of the majority of English words, thanks to the Cambridge Latin Dictionary. Those tricky SAT jawbreakers like circumlocution, magnanimous, and conflagration? All Latin. A stronger vocabulary means higher SAT scores, clearer writing, and sharper thinking. If Latin strengthens minds, sharpens words, and opens worlds, why would we abandon it? If Latin teaches patience, precision, and passion, why would we silence it? “Ad aspera ad astra”…through hardship to the stars (and maybe to a 1600).  

Not only this, Latin lives on in law, its philosophical foundations (shoutout to our alum Loudy Olson: leader of philosophy club and dedicated Latin student), science, and logic. Latin, as the default language for scholarly pursuits and jargon, benefits all academics. Indeed, Ms. Nesbitt, WT biology teacher, confirms: “Latin is very relevant for science.” Its removal diminishes not just our commitment to the humanities, but also our STEM literacy. Without Latin, our understanding of the world narrows, our ideas lose depth, and our thinking loses clarity. The loss of Latin weakens Winchester Thurston’s complete dedication to academics. 

Imagine life without Latin: no roots for our words, no history to connect to, no clarity in our thinking. Is that really the world WT wants to leave us with?

Latin in College Admissions 

In a world of low college acceptance rates and high stress, Latin helps students stand out.

For college admissions, Latin gives students a unique edge. Take it from Harvard’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, who states that a student with Latin on their transcript “would be even a greater rarity” today, frequently tipping the scales in their favor. 

Michael Behnke of the University of Chicago agrees: “Latin students are likely to be disciplined, have a strong basis for further learning, and be a little more creative toward intellectual pursuits than most.” 

For some students, Latin could be what turns the tide for a coveted college spot. 

WT’s own motto, Candide Modo Fortiter Re: “Gentle in manner, strong in deed,” was formed from the very language it is pushing out.  

The deed was decisive, yes. But was it gentle?

The deed was efficient, yes. But was it considerate?

The deed was bold, yes. But was it just? We’re not so sure…

The Life of Latin

Now, you’ve heard the statistics and the facts, but numbers alone cannot capture Latin’s value. To its enthusiasts, Latin is personal. 

As Latin students of three and five years, we are a bit biased in saying that Latin’s influence on us is undeniable. It has shaped us, it has challenged us, and it has inspired us. It’s taught us discipline, passion, and diligence, as well as having led to numerous friendships and a small but mighty community.

From our immensely eventful three-hour car ride with Mr. Krause to and from our PAJCL convention (shoutout to our bus-mates Julia, Sam, Lilia, and Mason) to putting together maps and scrapbooks with Mr. Svensson during JCL meetings, Latin has taught us a lot more than just declensions. 

However, don’t just take it from us. Take it from real-life Latin devotees. 

Voices of the Public:

Andrew Shlomchik, WT alum at Harvard University: “I think that ending the Latin program at WT is an incredibly disappointing development that seems to reflect a broader decision to divert resources to flashier, more marketing-friendly initiatives (say, “Community Days”) over traditional, much-beloved pillars of the WT education (namely, Latin). The Latin-learning community was always an active part of the Upper School community – and even more so with their inaugural participation in JCL (I didn’t even take Latin, but I helped with their fundraising efforts because I thought it was so cool). The end of Latin at WT is a true loss for the WT community.”

Dagny Haglund, WT alum at Stanford University: “I was deeply disappointed when I heard that Latin had been cut at WT. Latin was by far the most intellectually transformative class I took during high school. I cannot emphasize enough the impact learning Latin had on my education. As I have just started college, I find Latin aids me in nearly every class I take. I’ve read great works of classical literature that laid down ideas of Western civilization (our constitution makes so much sense if you know Latin). I’ve understood quotes and histories that led to our modern world. I learned the rules of Latin grammar, and in turn, mastered English. In fact, learning Latin has made learning languages at the collegiate level (I currently take German and am self-learning Spanish) so much easier and interesting.”

Dagny (continued):

“Nonetheless, the Latin department, despite an ebb of enrollment two years ago due to the Latin teacher position change, has grown in the recent school year. Last spring, Latin students started their own chapter of the Junior Classics League and traveled to the state Latin convention, securing Winchester Thurston first place in the state amongst small schools. Although adults helped, the majority of the push to do this was from the passionate student body. What other language at WT has a club that has competed in state competitions? None. The passion is clear within the Latin department.”

Dagny (continued pt. 2):

“So why, WT, would you cut something that not only opened intellectual doors, but also inspired a community of passionate learners? … So why, WT, do you value practicality (impersonal and questionable measurements of vitality of classes) over true love for learning? I find it very hypocritical of an institution that markets itself as one where learning and academic exploration thrive. Was our state championship not enough for you? To cut Latin is not only to diminish the richness of WT’s curriculum, but also to betray the very values the school claims to uphold.”

Christopher Chang, current PAJCL president: “The reason that Latin is so important to me is because it gave me a community where I could meet individuals from across the state, and grow my leadership skills far more than I had ever been able to before. Additionally, my time taking Latin in high school has shaped my future by giving me a career path into the Classics.”

And these are just a few of the arguments this decision has sparked. 

Our Final Words

They came. They saw. They cancelled. But, don’t let this discourage you from pursuing the beautiful, wonderful, whimsical language that we all know, and most of us….love. 

We have one last thing to say before our empire falls indefinitely:

Et tu, Fetch(e)?

Latin Lives On (in our hearts)

But maybe this isn’t the end. Latin was stabbed, yes, but it’s not dead yet. Latin survives in passion. Latin survives in curiosity. Latin survives in love for learning. 

To everyone who still believes in “Candide Modo Fortiter Re,” let’s be gentle in our grief, but strong in our deeds. So, WT: we grieve your decision, but we will not let it be the final word. The language of emperors, poets, and philosophers may be gone from your schedule, but it will live on in us! 

As Seneca the Younger once said, “Non scholae, sed vitae discimus” – We do not learn for school, but for life. 

Latin may have been cancelled on paper, its spirit and lessons live on in every student who refuses to let curiosity die, in every student who refuses to let learning fade.

LOL (lots of love),

Latin (aka. Nazhet and Hyunsoo)