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Aut disce aut discede

By March 20, 2010News

Speaking at a City Hall event this week, Bozza has waded into the eduction debate by using a speech to outline the importance of teaching certain key subjects in today’s society.  In this modern, technological age, what do you imagine the Mayor focused on as key to a child’s eduction?

That’s right: Latin.

Apparently, only around four per cent of state primary schools offer Latin, compared to 40 per cent in the independent sector. Boris therefore took the opportunity at a speech aimed at promoting the classics to call for a greater recognition of the language. “I firmly believe that we must not starve the minds of students eager to embrace the great intellectual disciplines of Latin,” he said.

OK, so it’s the precursor to many modern day European languages, but (from long experience) it is a bugger to learn and isn’t much use once you have mastered it. With no-one speaking it these days, difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas.

Whilst Boris is clearly passionate about this subject, perhaps he should also remember the old Latin motto: ‘mutantur omnia nos et mutamur in illis’…..

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