How many classical masters and mistresses inwardly wonder about the relevance of what they are teaching in their junior and middle-school Latin lessons? Is what is taught relevant to the claims we make for the place of classical studies in the curriculum?

One of the most permanent of the values of Latin is that it helps to make real to the pupil the continuing heritage of Rome in that part of the civilized world which has drawn its culture largely or in part from Europe. And yet we must admit that the pupils who reach Ordinary level and go no farther hardly taste this. Even though at the moment those who are following advanced studies in Latin are increasing in number, nevertheless the number of those who do not go beyond Ordinary level is likely to remain far greater.