The structure of Latin language learning.

So, the priest thinks that if you learn Latin, you should learn Latin from all eras, and that differences between eras are overblown.

"And I know that in modern times that it's only the church that's writing," he said, "But that's just the way that it is. I hate it too!"

I said that the trouble was where were you going to get teachers who were conversant in the quirks of Latin from all eras, since people just weren't set up to be trained that way.

And, that it's hard enough to get clued in to the historical background of texts from one era, let alone those spanning from across 2200 years.

He agreed, and said that it's a shame that you have Latin in Classics, and then Medieval Latin in the History dept. or maybe Religious Studies, and Renaissance or Reformation somewhere else entirely.

"Some of it's good, and some of it's bad, but people should read some of all of it!", he was like.

I started to try to ask him if he thought Classics Depts. as they are currently composed are a help or a hindrance to his dream of how Latin should be taught, but our conversation got interrupted and then it was time for the next session to start.