The Classics Department at The Heights School seeks to further the human and intellectual development of each boy through the discipline of learning Latin and Greek and through contact with the riches of classical culture. This department has always been and will always remain a fundamental part of the education offered at The Heights School.

 

Many students entering the Upper School from the Middle School have already mastered the basics of the Latin language. Regardless of previous studies, all Upper School students are required to take at least two years of Latin. The curriculum ends with advanced courses offered on Vergil and Lucretius.

 

Greek may be taken as early as the freshman year in the Upper School. Again, the student is first drilled in grammar and basic vocabulary, then introduced to original texts. It is necessary to study two years of Latin before taking Greek.

 

The classical languages are seen as the key to the academic curriculum because of their connection pedagogically and linguistically to the liberal arts. The mastery of English is greatly facilitated by the study of Latin and Greek. Students are forced to know the meaning of words and their syntactical use in a sentence. Reflecting the nature of their respective cultures, the classical languages instill Roman discipline, simplicity and clarity and Greek subtlety and harmony into the mental habits of the boys. The classical languages are fixed and clear, naturally leading to superior habits of thought. Finally, they are the conduit of classical culture. They are the “mother tongues” of the western canon, the possession of every educated man throughout western history. They enable the student to speak with the great minds of history on an equal footing.

 

Course offerings:

•   Latin I

•   Latin II

•   Latin Language Honors

•   Latin Literature Honors

•   Latin: Vergil AP

•   Latin Seminar: Lucretius

•   Greek I Honors

•   Greek II Honors

•   Greek III Honors

•   Greek IV Honors