[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sta,—The controversy on the pronunciation of Latin which had been renewed in your columns by the interesting article from the head4naster of Stowe, encourages me to submit a plea on behalf of preparatory schoolmasters.
For the preparatory schools this is surely a question that should be settled, not by independent vote either at the Public Schools' Head-Masters' Conference, or by the Preparatory Schools' Association ; but by a mutual agreement between the two.
At present (as your contributor has pointed out) a hopeless muddlo exists. Of three preparatory- schools at which I have been a master, at the first the " old " pronunciation was demanded, at the second the " new " ; at the third it was insisted that the three lower forms should be taught the " old," the three upper forms the " new."
I found it confusing enough when I changed from the first to the second ; but this was nothing to the confusion that existed in my mind when at the third I had to spend an hout each morning teaching the " old " pronunciation to Form IV., the " new " to Form III.
I am far from being a Latin scholar, neither can I pretend to possess that " plain man's " enthusiasm for the Classics which inspired the Prime Minister's splendid address as President of the Classical Association ; so that I am as indifferent as the average schoolboy which method of pro- nunciation is used.
But it is essential that a definite agreement should be reached, and as speedily as possible if the Public Schools are to continue to demand a knowledge of Latin from all candidates for the common entrance examinations.—I am, Sir, &c.,
23 Boundary Road, N.11'. 8. KENNET' t DURISTO N.
Previous page
