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Grammar
The aim of the grammar school curriculum was
to enable the student to read, write, and speak Latin, to acquaint
them with the leading Latin classics and a few of the Greek, and
to infuse into them sound moral and religious principles. Grammar dominated the lower forms,
logic and rhetoric the upper. In all forms the order was first
to learn precepts, then to employ them as a tool of analysis and reading,
and finally to use them as a guide to composition. Much of the
reading, especially in the lower forms, was selected with a view to
furnishing moral and religious instruction.
- Sr. Miriam
Joseph, Shakespeare’s Use of the Arts of Language.
The art of Grammar gives the ability to analyze sentences into component parts, recognize grammatical mistakes and make sentences in which every word fulfills a definite function. The sentence is the first expression of thought. Mastering sentence structure clarifies the mind. It allows students to understand, appreciate and imitate the subtlety and force of literary masters. Students well-trained in Grammar are in the best position to learn new languages.
Training in Grammar traditionally includes the introduction to the stories that lie at the heart of a culture. Ancient Greeks performed their grammatical exercises on selections from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey; they memorized it and learned to recite it with meaning and rhythm. As they matured, they learned continually from the passages and stories that remained in their souls. Medieval monks imbibed the Scriptures and Fathers, interspersing their sermons with quotations that connected their own ideas with the foundations of Christian life.
Memorization and recitation of great speeches and poetry is an exercise characteristic of training in Grammar. These exercises demand attention to particular words and phrases; the more difficult passages require some grammatical analysis in order to be properly understood; mistakes in presentation frequently reveal the subtleties of the author. Students gradually build up an internal treasury for their whole lives.
