Learning About Tolerance

Listen to poem:

I remember the lineups in highschool
we all wanted to study spanish
that sexy exotic language
stirring our dreams to travel

but a selected few where taken aside
we were encouraged to learn latin
you might have guessed that
we were taught by nuns

it turns out that we were strong students
tagged most likely with potential
I think they forgot to tell the teacher
because I would rate the teaching
at a grade two level when
we were actually in grade twelve

we didn’t complain and welcomed the break
much to our chagrin truthfully it was bittersweet
we did actually pursue latin again in grade thirteen
for some of us it was because we felt deep down
we had not learned enough the year before
but hey! it was just another easy A plus
turned out latin root words are used in medicine
which was to be more or less useful in later life

but how easily I digress…
the most impressive thing I did learn in this latin class
was conjugating and that feminine and masculine was
now accompanied by a gender neutral
and I was quite impressed with this mindblowing logic
I guess if everyone had taken my boring latin course
there would be much more tolerance in society today



AP: Honorable Mention 2020

Posted on March 1, 2020

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M. L. Kiser

Date: 3/1/2020 6:28:00 PM

I went to parochial school through the 6th grade, then I wanted to go where everyone else in the neighborhood was going so my parent's let me. When I started to public school, I was a whole year ahead. It was so weird, I recall being forced to learn latin so in public school, I grabbed the chance to take spanish. Great write.

Line Gauthier
Date: 3/1/2020 8:44:00 PM

Thanks for your much appreciated visit and comment, ML. Fun times, weren't they? LOL

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/1/2020 4:02:00 PM

Hahahahaha… My father made me take Latin instead of Spanish. We were taught by actual Ancient Romans---or so it seemed. What a waste! Seems I learned intolerance!... Oh, well. Long time ago now. ~ Gershon

Line Gauthier
Date: 3/1/2020 6:11:00 PM

I happen to have learned some greek too so later in life when I came across multisyllabic words I often recognized the root and would look smart so I guess it paid off after all. LOL

Silent One

Date: 3/1/2020 11:41:00 AM

You make a valid point... I think everyone needs to learn a second language..

Line Gauthier
Date: 3/1/2020 2:25:00 PM

Absolutely ~ the language of tolerance. Thanks for your lovely visit and comment, SO.