HUNTINGTON BEACH : Togas Readied for Latin Convention

Latin students at Marina High School are gearing up to be hosts this month of one of the biggest high school-level conventions in the state.

About 1,200 Latin students from 58 high schools throughout the state will attend the California Junior Classical League convention March 19 through 21.

“It’s a very big job preparing for this convention, and for the students at Marina, it’s something like handling a small business,” said Lynn Harding, a Latin teacher at Marina. She said the Latin students are handling about $48,000 in registration fees. The money is used for meals, awards and a final banquet.

Harding said Marina has about 170 Latin students. “We have a strong Latin program here at Marina; our high school offers four years of Latin,” she said.

Harding said plans during the three-day convention include several games based on activities of ancient Rome. On March 20, students will wear togas.

The California Junior Classical League schedules its annual convention at the high school of its current annual president, Harding said, this year’s president being Lola Stavroudis.

Harding said Latin is not a “dead language” in high school education. The nationwide Junior Classical League is one of the biggest youth organizations in the United States, which attests to the vitality of Latin as a subject, she said.

“Students who take Latin get a stronger background in history and in English grammar,” she said. “It’s an excellent subject for college preparation.”