| The Brooklyn Latin School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | To whom much has been given, from him much will be expected. |
| Established | 2006 |
| Type | Public (magnet) secondary |
| Headmaster | Jason Griffiths |
| Faculty | 37 |
| Students | 562 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 325 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11206, USA |
| Colors | Purple & White |
| Mascot | Titans |
| Newspaper | The Brooklyn Latineer |
| Website | http://www.brooklynlatin.org/ |
The Brooklyn Latin School is a specialized high school in New York City, founded in 2006.
The ideals governing Brooklyn Latin are borrowed largely from the Boston Latin School, and popular society's Ideals. John Elwell, the school's founder, and Jason Griffiths, its headmaster, administer the school and monitor the school .
Since Brooklyn Latin is a specialized high school, one must pass the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) in order to be admitted to the school. It is the second specialized high school in Brooklyn (along with Brooklyn Technical High School) and has the distinction of being the only specialized high school in which students adhere to a dress code. The school color, purple, reflects the preference of Roman nobility, who wore robes dyed in that color and is also the school color of the Boston Latin School, another borrowed trait.
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Unlike nearly all other specialized high schools, Brooklyn Latin has a strong focus on the humanities and classics. All students are required to take four years of English, History, Latin and a modern foreign language. The Brooklyn Latin School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school and offers the IB Diploma and its mandatory classes. All classes regularly hold Socratic Seminars, in which students lead roundtable question-and-answer discussions, and all students take part in declamation (public speaking) exercises.
In disciplines such as English and History, there is a focus on classical studies, and all students will receive a grounding in literary and historical traditions before graduating. Latin instruction begins during the first year of instruction and continues throughout.
The Brooklyn Latin School is the only specialized high school in New York City that has implemented the IB Diploma Programme. The mission of International Baccalaureate aligns with and expands the vision of The Brooklyn Latin School. In particular, IB has translated its mission into a Learner Profile of ten characteristics (inquiring, thoughtful, expressive, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, caring, balanced, risk-taking and reflective) that reflect the ideals of personal responsibility and moral integrity on which The Brooklyn Latin School was founded.
In addition, participation in IB coursework benefits students in the college admission process by allowing them to conduct college-level work throughout their high-school careers. Universities around the globe recognize the rigor and value of an IB education, and IB Diploma holders are widely considered more prepared for the challenges of collegiate life than their peers, even those who have completed equitable Advanced Placement work. In 2003, applicants to major universities throughout the U.S. were accepted at an average rate of at least 20% higher than applicants with no IB experience. Many universities will also award academic credit for successful examination results in specific subject areas or after completion of the full IB Diploma.
Because Brooklyn Latin is a school based on Greco-Roman ideals, many Latin names are used instead of commonplace school terms. Below is a list of some Brooklyn Latin nomenclature:
A standing tradition of the Brooklyn Latin school would be the extensive trips that take place. In freshman year, the students go to Boston to visit their sister school and to enjoy themselves as well. Any newly employed magistri are also asked to go. When senior year arrives, the students head to Italy and roam from its northern reigns to its south.
Each year, The Brooklyn Latin School celebrates Founders' Day to recognize the hard work of those individuals and partner organizations - magistri, discipuli, staff, parents, Replications, Inc., Boston Latin School - who have made and continue to make our school's formative years a success. Founders' Day reminds us in The Brooklyn Latin School community of our roots, and it inspires us to live up to our tradition of excellence.
Founders' Day is May 22.
The Brooklyn Latin School subscribes to the classical belief that to be a leader in any field, academic or otherwise, one needs to be well-spoken. As Cicero notes in De Oratore, mastering the art of speech involves mastering all of the arts. Those trained to speak well possess sharper memories, better writing skills, and more expansive areas of expertise.
That they may enjoy these advantages, Brooklyn Latin School students must take part in declamation. In declamation, students must memorize a passage from a text, such as Dante's Commedia, and then declaim it before the faculty and fellow students. Each year, four in-class declamations are held in English and History, with an additional four public declamations being held for students who wish to audition to declaim before the entire Brooklyn Latin School community.
The last of these public declamations is Prize Declamation. Being selected as the declaimer for Prize Declamation is one of the highest honors The Brooklyn Latin School bestows. Activities such as these assure that students learn to speak clearly and with confidence, and it follows Cicero's advice that the one crucial ingredient to becoming an eloquent speaker is practice.
Prize night is an event that celebrates the special accomplishments of individual discipuli as well as the entire student body over their four years at TBLS. Held on the night before graduation, prize night goes beyond academic commendation to also celebrate students who have made contributions in the arts, to their communities, and in other areas that go into making a well-rounded student.
Academic success is an integral aspect of the culture of The Brooklyn Latin School. From the start, our aim has been to create a culture where academic success and intellectual achievement are valued, honored, and celebrated. Four times each year, the school comes together to celebrate the academic achievements of discipuli in each subject for the previous term. Awards for community service and attendance are also presented.
Brooklyn Latin is unique in that it is the only specialized high school with a dress code. All boys wear khaki pants, white shirts and ties; girls may wear either skirts or khaki pants with white shirts. Amendments to the uniform are only allowed for medical or religious reasons.
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