Colleagues:

I'd been exchanging notes with Netter who'd found some Latin material of
mine on the Internet. When I told my students, they couldn't believe that
anyone would actually go out of their way to find Latin to work on! I told
her about my students' incredulity, and she wrote this letter for me read to
my students, which I repost to you with her permission. I found it kind of
moving and thought you should have a look.

Take care,

Dale Grote

Hi Dale!

Share this with your class.....

Latin, in my opinion, is an extrememly valuable part of one's education. I am a Midwife in a remote part of New Mexico. If you place a compass point at Carlsbad and aline the pencil at Roswell and draw a circle, you will see my territory. I can cover over 300 or 400 hundred miles on any given day covering my territory. The rest of the time I homeschool my five sons and watch the cactti grow. Most body parts, body processes, body functions, medicines, and herbs are based on Latin terms. It makes my job so much easier if I can explain a Latin term in English to my clients. Most of my clients are the working poor. Too rich to qualify for Medicaid and too poor to afford insurance. They come from all walks of life including an MD, a chiropractor, a college professor (on sabbatical), a 15 year old expecting her second, and ranchers. ( I admit I get great meat from these types of folks).

Over the last few days, I asked several of my friends and clients what they thought of Latin. There was a universal tone of regret among those who haven't taken it. Others often quote something. You can tell they took a class. The homeschoolers in my group asked if I was going to start a group to study Latin. Everyone was interested except for Barb Y., she has been teaching her kids Latin for 2 years. My mother still remembers her Latin teachers with fondness over 50ty years later. She maintains her Latin has enabled her to complete crossword puzzles in ink! No, your teacher did not write my note. If I could be in your class, I would gladly trade places with one of you. You see, if I could, I would just turn around and share it with my friends!

Catch you later,

Beth

"...I have made this letter longer because I lack the time to make it shorter." (Blaise Pascal, 1656)