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July 1, 2008
Dear Fellow Washingtonians:
In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy exhorted his countrymen that “only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.” Today, amidst different but no less perilous dangers, we as a society must again rise to that challenge. The answer, then as now, is to rely on the education and character of our youth. Unfortunately, the deterioration of educational standards in the United States since President Kennedy’s time has left two generations of children much less well prepared to enter a rapidly changing and competitive global society.
In response to this need I would like to introduce and welcome you to The Washington Latin School, a socially conscious, independent classical academy scheduled to open its doors in 2009-2010. The School seeks to revitalize an educational regimen that, for hundreds of years, was nearly universally accepted as the foundation of learning itself in the western tradition. Only in the last century, with the wave of new media that has bombarded our children with the constant temptation of instant gratification, has the study of classical antiquity waned in the United States. To counter this dangerous trend, the School, in all that it does, seeks vigorously to support the study of the Classics and to reassert that a thorough understanding of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations is the basis of formal education. Even our comprehensive program in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) will emphasize the classical basis – and moral consequences – of modern science and technology.
Even more important than establishing the very highest expectations for academic excellence, The Washington Latin School will promote a school culture based on the moral precepts and noble examples of our founding father, George Washington. From the jackets and ties they will wear, to the starched, snow-white linens upon which they will eat lunch, Latin scholars will be treated with respect and dignity at all times, and be expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct becoming young ladies and gentlemen. In short, Latin will be a school where character counts, and where character-formation is the foremost concern.
Henry Brooks Adams, the nineteenth-century journalist and author, said “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Likewise, the implications of this endeavor will reverberate not only here in our nation’s capital, but around the United States and the world. The Washington Latin School here in the federal city will serve as the flagship campus for an entire brand of schools operated by its parent company, The Fund for Classical Education. The Fund, a non-profit corporation established in our neighboring Commonwealth of Virginia – the home of George Washington – exists to promote classical learning throughout American society and around the world. Its passion and purpose are to inspire succeeding generations to live serious lives of noble purpose, serving the world through their character and leadership. It will widen access to classical education and spread the message and values of our first President to nations and peoples far and wide.
But even the greatest tasks need a beginning, and for us the starting-point is right here in Washington, DC.
In the coming days and weeks, this web site will be filled out much more extensively and will include information on our curriculum, our distinctive school culture, and our application process. In the meantime, I invite you to send your inquiries directly to me at headmaster@washingtonlatin.org.
Best Regards,
Thomas A. Soule
Head Master
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