SHOULD LATIN OR SOME MODERN LANGUAGE COME FIRST? 235 
WHICH SHOULD COME FIRST, LATIN, OR SOME MODERN 
LANGUAGE ? 
BY W. WILBERFORCE SMITH, ENGLEWOOD, N. J. 
«In cases where a choice should be made, which should come first, Latin or some 
nodern language, in the course of study of secondary schools ?” 
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THE question is one of priority only. It assumes that both Latin and 
some modern language are to be taught, and by this token it appears that 
we are to discuss the interests of that class of pupils who, more than others, 
onlist our glad and unsparing service, because their study aims not at 
immediate, material ends, but at that decent store of knowledge, discipline 
of mind, and elevation of sentiment, that make and mark scholarly men. 
[n these pupils the schoolmaster finds grandest opportunity. 
Whether Latin or some modern language should come first, will be best 
Jetermined if we remember that both are parts of a comprehensive scheme 
of study in which their place depends largely upon their natural relations 
to other parts. 
The education of these pupils will proceed mainly by means of mathe- 
matics, natural science, and language. In the department of language 
English is of paramount importance. It is to be studied for its own sake; 
Latin and French, German and Greek, partly for their own sake, partly 
for their contribution to a knowledge of English. 
The right point of view is had by putting the question third in a series. 
First, What is the best course of study in the secondary school, when 
highest culture is the aim ? Second, What part of this course belongs to 
language study ? Zhird, what place in the plan for language study shall 
be given to Latin and some modern language other than English ? 
Let us have the clements of our problem, the pupil and the subjects, 
correctly before us. 
The pupil has a lively faculty for observing and remembering what 
interests him ; has an eager appetite for things new, is a good worker when 
interested and conscious of making gains, but is decidedly averse to work 
which he doesn’t see use in. Me is already a proficient student of lan- 
guage by the < natural method,” and has a knowledge of English quite 
adequate to his needs thus far. He can understand English, speak it, 
read it, write it, conforming in the main to conventional spelling, more 
readily and correctly than the school will enable him ever to speak any 
other tongue. Moreover, he will continue to learn English by the natu- 
-al method, whether the school make note of this or not. 
And what of language ? In it lies, consciously and unconsciously 
written. almost all we know of the men and deeds of history. It 1s almost