THE HANDBOOK SERIES SELECTED ARTICLES ON THE STUDY OF LATIN AND GREEK COMPILED BY LAMAR T. BEMAN, A. M., LL.B. NEW YORK 1921 G. E. P. EXPLANATORY NOTE The Classical Association of the Atlantic States published in 1915 a forty page pamphlet entitled "The Practical Value of Latin" in which were given the opinions of many prominent people advocating the study of Latin and Greek, with an introduction that endeavored to answer most of the more common objections to the study of the dead languages. Three copies of this pamphlet were sent to each member of the association together with a leaflet that asked for their co-operation "to get the pamphlet into the hands of those who need it most, the pupils and the parents who have to face the problem whether Latin shall be elected." Lower prices were charged for the pamphlet where a larger number of copies were taken for distribution. The leaflet further stated, "It is hoped that many members will purchase copies to be distributed as widely as possible. Members who are not in a position to distribute copies themselves may wish to contribute to a fund for the distribution of copies; such contributions will be most welcome." The pamphlet, on the inside of the first cover, states frankly that it is "published in the hope that children and parents both may be guided to a wise choice of studies in school and college by the aid of these convictions of persons of distinction." No criticism is offered here of this organized propaganda, and this is only one small phase of the propaganda carried on by the teachers of the dead languages, but the opinion is expressed that it is seldom possible to reach a wise conclusion on any question that is a matter of public controversy by reading only one side of that case, and that this is particularly true when the ex parte statement is so largely a matter of opinions that have been compiled by interested parties. Children and parents may be, not “not guided to a choice,” but rather given an opportunity to get for themselves the facts that will enable them to decide upon an even wiser choice of studies if they have at their disposal a little volume that presents fully and fairly “the convictions of persons of distinction" on both sides of this old and 460033 |