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Latin at Providence


Considering the sheer number of years and number of quality schools wherein the teaching of Latin was an integral part of academic training, the instruction in Latin at Providence Christian School should need no explanation or defense. However, like many traditional components of good education lost in the name of “modern” or “progressive” education, Latin’s advantages have been neglected and forgotten by a couple of generations.

Latin was regularly taught in American high schools as late as the 1940’s. It was considered necessary to the fundamental understanding of English, the history and writings of Western Civilization, and the understanding of Romance languages. Providence Christian School teaches Latin, therefore, for two major reasons:

Latin is not a “dead language” but rather a language that lives in almost all major western languages, including English. Training in Latin not only gives the student a better understanding of the roots of English vocabulary, it also lays the foundation for learning other Latin-based languages.

Learning the grammar of Latin reinforces the student’s understanding of the reasons for, and the use of, the parts of speech being taught in our traditional English class work, e. g. plurals, nouns, verbs, prepositions, direct objects, tenses, etc.

Latin Programs

The Latin program at Providence Christian School consists of the following basic objectives:

  • Third Grade (1st Year): Vocabulary acquisition, declensions, charts of endings, derivatives
  • Fourth Grade (2nd Year): Continued vocabulary, beginning grammar work, basic verbs, simple sentences
  • Fifth Grade (3rd Year): Continued sentences, vocabulary, basic translation work, phrases, grammar
  • Sixth Grade: Not taught
  • Seventh and Eighth Grades (4th and 5th Year): Translation work (New Testament/Vulgate and other sources), grammar, writing, sentences, stories, Classical background