Government debates usefulness of Latin state schools to break ‘elitist’ reputation

A debate has been sparked on the usefulness of learning Latin, after it was announced on Saturday that the government is to spend £4 million to expand the teaching of the ancient language to state secondary schools in England.

Latin lessons will be introduced in 40 schools from September next year as part of a scheme by the Department of Education to make the language more accessible for state school students, who, unlike their private-school counterparts, do not typically have the option of learning it.

In a statement on the scheme, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that, though Latin “has a reputation as an elitist subject which is only reserved for the privileged few”, the language “can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that divide.”

However, the announcement sparked a conflicted debate in the UK on whether or not Latin is still a useful language to learn in the 21st century.

Could this simply be another way that the Tories stifle working class kids aspirations? It seems that the middle class will be quick off the blocks with private tuition for little “Rupert’s everywhere.

One teacher we talked to was quoted as saying ” it will be handy for travelling back to 79 A.D. and informing the residents of Naples that their local volcano is about to blow, otherwise…”