At Townsend Harris, all students are required to take two years of a classical language course during their sophomore and junior year if they are to receive the THHS Honor Certificate upon graduation.  During March, sophomores take the beginning level National Latin Exam (NLE) or the National Greek Exam (NGE) while juniors take the intermediate level of the NLE or the NGE. Although this has been a defining tradition for THHS students, THHS’s two-year classical language requirement to obtain the honors certificate should be changed to one year.  

By junior year, many students try to maximize their schedules by enrolling in multiple AP classes, or other electives that are more relevant to  their intended college major and future career than a classical language might be. For example, students who hope to pursue both a degree and career in STEM may be inclined to double up on advanced science and math courses. 

Townsend Harris offers a wide variety of electives that are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. However, with the requirement of three years of modern language, two years of a classical language, and other required core classes, a student’s schedule can easily fill up, leaving limited space for multiple electives. Removing the second year requirement of classical language would allow juniors more freedom over their schedules and allow them to pick what electives they would like to enroll in. 

While modern languages are used frequently outside of an academic setting, classical languages remain limited to the classroom. This makes it more difficult for students to practice speaking and listening skills, which are needed to successfully immerse yourself in a language.

Despite the shortcomings of the classical languages two year requirement, it is important to acknowledge the benefits from learning a classical language, such as gaining insights on the roots of modern English and having a better understanding of grammar. Studying classical languages allows students to use these skills and apply them to other languages, therefore strengthening their overall understanding of grammar structures. The requirement of learning a classical language may also be viewed as a key part of THHS’s identity as a humanities-centered school; learning about these languages adds depth to students’ understanding of Western civilization and history. 

Thus, students who wish to continue a second year of a classical language and score well on the NLE or NGE should be given the option to take an additional year of classical language. This would allow students who are passionate and interested in the topic to explore and learn about classical languages. 

However, to also accommodate students who desire to have more freedom and flexibility over their schedule, THHS should lower the requirement for classical language from two years to one year. By doing so, it will still provide students with the basic foundations of classical language, while also enabling students who do not wish to move onto a second year of a classical language to obtain the THHS Honors Certificate In any case, students should still be allowed to graduate with the THHS Honors certificate regardless of if they have completed two years of a classical language, given the certificate’s other requirements, which require students to do more work than the standard New York State graduate.