Welcome to the home page of the Latin and Classical Studies program at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute- a secondary school in the Toronto District School Board. At Lawrence Park, we have had a long tradition of studies in Latin and Classical Civilization. As long as Lawrence Park has been open, Latin has been taught here. I am grateful to my predecessors at Lawrence Park for building and maintaining such a strong and vibrant program and I seek to continue this admirable tradition of excellence in Latin and Classical Studies.

 

 

My interest in Latin and Classics began in my undergraduate days at the University of Western Ontario. While pursuing a B.A. Honours in History there, I became interested in Mediaeval history and, as a result, began to learn Latin.  Over time, I became more and more interested in ancient history in its own right and I took an M.A. in Ancient History at McMaster University. I followed this degree with intensive work in Latin and ancient Greek which culminated in an M.A. in Classics at the University of Western Ontario. After this degree, I did PhD. work at the University of Toronto in the Department of Classics. Ultimately, I did not complete this degree because I realized that my real passion was teaching. After obtaining my Bachelor of Education at OISE/University of Toronto in 2004, I was hired by the Toronto District School board in 2004 and took over the Lawrence Park Latin and Classical Studies program in 2005. 

 

Course Offerings and Prerequisites:

 

Description: This course begins our study of Latin. Using the Cambrige Latin Course, we begin our explorations of the Latin language and Roman culture. We learn how to read and comprehend Latin and how to pronounce it. We learn about Latin grammar and relate it back to expand our understanding of English grammar. We find the Latin roots to many English words. Since our stories are set in the Roman city of Pompeii, we learn much about daily life among the Romans in the 1st century CE including such topics as the city of Pompeii, food, clothing, slavery, gladiators, literacy, elections and, of course, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE.

 

Description: In this course, we continue our Latin studies. Using the Cambridge Latin Course, we explore stories and cultural topics set in Roman Britain and Egypt in the 1st century CE. We continue to develop our understanding of Latin grammar and use this understanding  to read and comprehend Latin stories. We keep relating back our understanding of Latin grammar and Latin roots to English grammatical forms and English derivatives from Latin. In the cultural area, we explore such topics as Roman provinces, daily life in Roman Britain and Roman Egypt, magic, Roman medicine and science and the Roman army.

 

Description: In this course, we complete our Latin studies. Using the Cambridge Latin Course, we explore stories and cultural topics set in Roman Britain and Rome itself. Students, by the time they complete this course, will reach a level of understanding of Latin grammar which will allow them to read and comprehend reasonably simple passages of Latin written by actual Latin authors such as Martial. They will also have gained a considerable understanding of how English grammar works and about English derivative words from Latin. Our cultural topics include a study of select Roman emperors, Roman imperialism, Roman intellectual encounters with Judaism,  Christianity and Greek philosophy, the city of Rome and Roman social practices.    

 

Description: This course exposes the student to the lively and influential Greek and Roman cultures. We will consider both of these civilizations by analyzing them in light of their history and geography, their mythology, their literature, their religions and philosophies and their art and physical remains. Students will also learn about how to write a formal academic paper and make formal academic presentations as well as how to interpret and report on an archaeological site and debating from the Roman and Greek point of view. Our intention in this course is to expose our students to the rich and multicultural world of the Greek and Romans and to prepare them as they move on to university studies.

 

I hope that this site will be useful for both the students taking Latin and/or Classical Studies courses at Lawrence Park and their parents. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute or e-mail at Phillip.Snider@tdsb.on.ca