“Why do I have to learn Greek and Latin?” “Isn’t it a dead language?” “Wouldn’t Spanish be way cooler?” 

These are the questions that I routinely answer for my middle school students. At this age, they are beginning to flex their rational muscles; accordingly, they want to know that it makes logical sense to learn Latin and Greek. Like Columbus, they proudly place their flag on what is now their newfound discovery of reason. We adults just don’t make sense, and learning Greek and Latin to them is utterly unreasonable. Of course, we ought to rejoice in, promote, and cultivate their desire for rational understanding. We want, after all, to raise kids who make logical choices. In spite of this I often find myself responding:

“Because I said so.” “No more questions.” “We are moving on.”

After spending 15 minutes of class time discussing how 70% of English words come from Latin or how scientific and philosophical language contains heavy amounts of Greek or how Western Civilization rests on the shoulders of Greek and Latin literature, I have to put reason aside. That is the thing about rational discussion—it can go on forever—and at some point, one has to simply choose to trust that there is a rational basis for what they are being asked to do, even if they cannot see it.

This second muscle of learning takes us beyond what we can logically appreciate. It is akin to faith and obedience, and I have found that students at this age desperately need to flex this muscle too. I can give them all the reasons in the world why Latin and Greek will help them in life, but at a certain point, they will need to simply accept that they may not entirely understand why.

C.S. Lewis has a short essay entitled “The Parthenon and the Optative,” which argues that students who never spend time learning the granular aspects of a subject — in the case of Greek grammar, the optative mood — but rather gloss over these in pursuit of things that seem more important, will ultimately be left incapable of real understanding. I agree with Lewis. The things that are unexciting and seemingly trivial prepare them to later look back with a sense of real appreciation. I will continue to give them reasons why they should learn Latin and Greek, not expecting them to really understand, and I will simultaneously encourage them to work hard at what might feel pointless, in hopes that one day they will understand.