Why Study Latin?

Many of you have probably been asked at one time or another, "Why Latin?" Many people believe that since Latin is a "dead" language, there's no point in studying it.  In fact, odds are, when others find out you take Latin, you will get one of two responses:  

1.  Why?  What can you do with that?

2.  You must be really smart.  Latin is really hard.

Here are some links to information that can help you address response #1:

The series National Education Report produces documentaries about the latest educational topics and trends, including important issues facing students and professionals in the education arena today. Here's their video on the value of studying Latin: National Education Report.

Here's an article by Bloomberg News explaining how Latin can make a difference when you apply to colleges:  Lingua Latina Introitum in Vnivers. Harvard. Faciliorem Reddit

While this is a little past where you are, there's some good information in this article on the value of majoring in the classics (Latin and/or Greek).  Classics Majors Find Their Future in the Past

Here's some nice tidbits, courtesy of the National Committee for Latin and Greek:

Parents Unhappy about Classics?? 

Not every parent is happy about a child majoring in classics. This father wasn't but perhaps should have been, considering the success his son is now.

"I am appalled, even horrified, that you have adopted Classics as a Major. As a matter of fact, I almost puked on the way home today. . . . I suppose everybody has to be a snob of some sort, and I suppose you will feel that you are distinguishing yourself from the herd by becoming a Classical snob. ... I think you are rapidly becoming a jackass, and the sooner you get out of that filthy atmosphere, the better it will suit me."

Ed Turner to his son Ted Turner, c. 1958, when the latter was a student at Brown University. (Yes, Ted Turner, founder of CNN and Turner Broadcasting)

List of Famous Classics Majors 

* Jerry Brown, Mayor of Oakland (former Governor of CA)
* William Cohen, Secretary of Defense during Clinton administration
* Lynn Sherr, correspondent, ABC-TV's "20-20"
* James Baker, former Secretary of State
* Ted Turner, founder of CNN, Turner Broadcasting, etc.
* Robert Graves, poet
* Willa Cather, teacher, journalist, critic, and author
* Rita Mae Brown, animal enthusiast and author
* W.E.B. DuBois, sociologist, co-founder of NAACP, and author
* Toni Morrison, author and winner of Nobel Prize for Literature-1993
* Gerda Lerner, pioneer in teaching women's history and author
* Chuck Geschke, former CEO and co-founder of Adobe Systems
* Sigmund Freud, pioneer in psychoanalysis and author
* Jane Addams, social worker, founder of Hull House, winner of Nobel Peace Prize-1931
* Betty Friedan, found of NOW and author
* Anne Carson, Canadian poet and scholar
* Nancy Vickers, president of Bryn Mawr College
* Friedrich W. Nietzsche, philosopher and author
* Teller of Penn and Teller, Magicians
* J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels
* Ruth Padel, poet and non-fiction author
* Martha Lane Fox, British entrepreneur and technology advocate
* Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly Media
* Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse novels

And a whole list put together by David Meadows.  (Hey, any of you like the band Coldplay?  Chris Martin, the lead singer, was a Classics Major!)  Look here to see some other famous majors courtesy of Forbes.com, including Joe Paterno, coach of the Penn State football team!