Priscilla Scofield teaching Latin class
Since 1923, a year after Roosevelt’s founding, Latin instruction has continued through generations of students committed to the language, history, and culture. Now, 99 years later, the Latin program has come to its last year at Roosevelt, officially ending all Latin instruction in Seattle Public Schools.
The decision was announced in early March, after dialogue between administration and Priscilla Scofield, Roosevelt’s Latin teacher for the past 10 years. Scofield recalls being summoned for her yearly observation meeting by Jessica Proctor, Roosevelt’s Assistant Principal. “She told me that I would not be teaching Latin next year,” Scofield states, following that “the program would be discontinued.”
The Latin program’s cut can be linked to a national trend of declining foreign-language instruction. According to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 58% of middle schools currently offer a foreign language in comparison to 75% in 1997.
For Roosevelt, this phenomenon can be attributed to a tighter budget.
According to Scofield, Latin One and Two serve to meet language graduation requirements, while upper levels of the course are deemed as merely electives. For this reason, the administration found that in a year where a fourth level language class would be hard to maintain due to lower numbers of enrollment, an elective option would not be plausible.
This decision can also be tied to lower enrollment years prior.
Scofield recounts 20 students enrolled in Latin One in 2020, 10 less than in the year prior.
With decreased enrollment numbers in 2021 as well, only Latin Two and upper levels were offered.
Scofield believes this decline comes down to the “lack of opportunity to promote Latin to students who are registering [for courses].”
To enroll new students in the program, visiting 8th graders is the best option according to Scofield.. However, the program lost this opportunity before the pandemic closed schools. “The last time there was an Eckstein registration in-person before remote learning we got a full class of people.”
This year, Latin One was removed from 8th grade registration entirely, a decision made by RHS administration following their decision on the future of Latin courses. Upon request for comment, Vice Principals Michael Kelly, Jessica Proctor, and Roy Merca were unable to offer an interview.
For Scofield, the end of this chapter hits hard, “I will miss Latin and I am sad to see it go.”
Students are also emotional. For Ava Bender, a current sophomore and Latin Two student, this cut has meant a loss of community, “Latin really is my stability at Roosevelt and with Latin being cut I have no stability.”.
Bender took quick action in an effort to save the class. With an online petition gaining over 950 signatures, Bender feels these numbers represent the common outrage and emotion from the Seattle community. “Our goal was to let people know that we cared and that other people cared,” continuing that, “we have 950 people in our community who want this to continue and who care about us and who care about our well being.”
James Browning, a current senior and fourth year Latin student, also stepped up, filing an online complaint to Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones, compiling a list of the unfair treatment the program has received.
In spite of these efforts, no consequential impact could be reciprocated into the program.
As the year is coming to an end, Latin students will be left only to reflect on their own journeys through the language.
Senior and fourth year Latin student Rane Christian recalls the educational aspect, “It’s one of the classes that’s genuinely advanced my work as a student and scholar. I’ve felt very challenged in this class in a good way, I’m doing work at a level I haven’t done in any of my other classes.”
Many students remember the program in a personal aspect as well. “The Latin program isn’t just a course in a classroom occurring once in a day, it’s also a community of people with fun interests getting together and learning about a fun culture,” says senior Caden Close. Sophomore Max Baker reflects, “The Latin program has also made me closer with my friends the same way the music program or athletic programs have.”
While the end of the Latin program at Roosevelt is near, Scofield has not lost hope that one day the program will return. For her, it comes down to the desire of the people. “If this comes back, it comes back because the community wants it to come back.”
