Letter from Leslie Levy

Dear Corrie

Dear Corrie

As you know I graduated with Latin and Classis (first class) as my majors in my BA at Wits University (1963) and then read for an LLB (1966). I was admitted as an advocate of the supreme court of South Africa in July 1966 but chose to enter the Business World and since 1973 have been managing director of my own  (private) company in the field of marketing.

From my early years in business I aspired to identify with the beacons of professional excellence in my field and in 1973 was elected as a fellow of the British Institute of Directors and was also elected a fellow of the institute of directors in SA on the same date. I continue to be a member asof this date.

More to the point I have been a member of the Classical Association of South Africa  (CASA) since 1964 and am in fact a life member of the organisation.

My years as a student of the classics were three of the most intellectual satisfying and gratifying of my life and formed the basis of my love for the classics which has been with me ever since.

I am now 67 and feel that I owe debt to my classical education. I am heartened amazed and encouraged to see your inspirational effort to introduce young minds to this repository of treasure.

I would like to identify in a small way with your programme and would be greatly honoured if you would permit me to establish an annual prize of R1000.00 plus a trophy on a classical theme to the best student in your Schola Scripta programme.

I have looked through the material you have kindly made available to me and can only say that it is superbly and invitingly presented and should provide the first building blocks of a lifelong interest in and affinity for the classical world.

The number of young people who I believe have enrolled in your unique course testifies the need it so admirable meets.

Leslie S. Levy

Comments from students and teachers on the Schola Scripta Course:

”As students from traditionally disadvantaged communities, they have a measure impediment in English which is successfully addressed by this course

Their knowledge obtained from the course made a world of difference to their understanding and application of the English Language…they have acquired the ability and confidence to derive the meanings of unknown words from Latin“

Mrs S Hurlin. Principal Cornerstone College 1997

Comments by Zulu, Swazi and Basutu pupils

"This course taught me lots of English words I didn’t know. I think I did improve my English marks"

"I have benefited from this course because now I can spell English words that derives from Latin words and I know how to greet in Latin "

1995

HM van Heerden ( hoof v Morgenzon Volkskool 1995):

 H vd Westhuizen" 2000:

"My dogter se begrip van Engels het besonder verbeter en sy snap onmiddellik van watter Latynse woord die Engelse woord ontleen is"

A man  who does not understand Latin is like one who walks through a beautiful region in a fog; his horizon is very close to him. He sees only the nearest  things clearly, and a few steps  away from him, the outlines of  everything become indistinct or wholy  lost. But the horizon of the Latin scholar extends far and  wide through the centuries of modern history, Middle Ages and antiquity. 

Arthur Schopenhauer