19 MARCH 1932, Page 18

THE PRONUNCIATION OF LATIN

[To the Editor of the SeecrATott.] Sta,--1 am sorry that Bishop Welldon thinks I ant hard on "old schoolmasters." But what I complain of is that having taken their hands from the plough they should so constantly deride the attempting of those of us who arc bearing the burden and heat of the day. From Who's Who I learn that the Bishop retired from harrow thirty-firer years ago, and I can find no trace of first-hand knowledge of Latin teaching since that day. I do IPt know what pronunciation of Latin was used at Harrow then, but I do know that the reformed method of Latin pronunciation was by no means universal. When about that time I spoke in favour of its adoption at the Classical Association I was informed by a famous Scottish schoolmaster that I was making Latin too easy. The refornied pronuncia- tion is absolutely phonetic. The boys who begin arc, through French,•quite familiar with the Continental values of the vowels, and the consonants present no difficulties. If Bishop Welldon will consider the two pronunciations of proficisei I think he will agree that it is not " contrary to common itense to say that the reformed pronunciation is the easier.

I will challenge Dr. Welldon to find a single inspector of the Board of Education to agree with hint, or to lind any conseett- tke ten teachers of Latin whose names occur in the- &hoe/- mestere' Year Book of whom nine do not agree with me.—I ant,