The end of civilisation continued..

On 11th July Michael Gove, Education Secretary, said the following:

`It is a source of considerable pride to me that the number of students studying Latin in comprehensives is the highest ever. We are presiding over the greatest renaissance in Latin learning since Julius Caesar invaded. [ Interruption. ] Those who are about to answer should be saluted, as we say in Latin. The critical thing is that we have to ensure that our examinations in every subject are up there with the best in the world. It is striking that before he went to university, one of the iconic figures of the 21st century—Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook—studied Latin, Greek and classical Hebrew.`

While this is good news on the other hand one of the country`s leading classics departments, Royal Holloway University College in London, is facing closure. According to the proposals from September 2012 student numbers will be reduced to 40 a year for BA`s in Classical Studies and Ancient History as well as Joint Honours. The classics degree will be discontinued. Ancient Historians on the staff will join the History department in 2014. A revival of Latin teaching can`t happen without trained teachers.There is an online petition here and a campaign blog to follow here.