APA
Precollegiate Teaching Awards for
2002
"Demanding" and "dedicated" are the
words that recur in the dossier of Caroline P.
Caswell, who has
taught Latin and Greek since 1987 at the Boston Latin
Academy. Caroline received a B.A. in Classics from
Radcliffe College, an M.A. in Classics from Case Western
Reserve, a Ph.D. in Classical Studies from Boston
University and an Ed.D. from Harvard.
Boston Latin Academy is an exam school
with a classical curriculum which attracts students of
varied backgrounds from all over the city. [ At BLA,
Caroline is a Lead Teacher, that is a model of what
teaching should be.] Many students come from families
where education is not the norm. Caroline opens up a
world for the students "which is in her words " new and
strange, and yet accessible because it is human". In
Caroline's view among the many benefits of a classical
education is that it demonstrates that "any culture, no
matter how strange at first glance, is accessible to us
all". In the words of her colleague, Paul Properzio,
Caroline appeals to a wide range of students who
represent the diverse population of the Academy. It is an
exceptionally rich group who value the school's rigorous
classical education".
For Caroline rigor, is always part of
the picture. In the words of Paul Properzio, "Caroline's
students come first, but she is not easy on them. She has
earned their respect by her uncompromisingly high
standards that they both complain about and admire. She
expects her students to go the limit and, if they do not,
she challenges them to succeed." One student states that
she reminds them that there is always something left to
learn. Another writes: "Although Dr. Caswell is always
willing to help us through the woes of Latin translation,
she is willing to coddle no one. I probably wouldn't take
a bullet for Doctor Caswell, but I know I would (and
have) spend an hour pouring over the First
Catilinarian for myself".
The Boston Latin Academy certamen team
embodies Caroline's teaching philosophy. One team member
says: "To this day she challenges us to be better than we
are". A Boston Globe reporter, noting the
multi-ethnic make-up of the BLA certamen team that went
to the national finals three years ago, writes: " In this
era of trashing public schools it is easy to miss moments
where stereotypes of who takes on stiff academic
challenges are smashed".
Students praise the seemingly endless
amounts of time Caroline devotes to certamen and to
other, more personal needs. One says: "To me it meant a
lot that an influential teacher had so many positive
things to say about my character. And without your help
last year my character would not be as strong as it is
now." Another thanks Caroline for driving her and another
student across town on a Saturday morning to take the
Latin SAT II exam when they could not have gotten there
themselves.
Caroline has kept herself fresh and
inspired her students with her ongoing research and study
projects. She was co-director of an NEH Focus Grant, a
comparative study of the Roman empire and the Han dynasty
and project director for an NEH Focus Grant on
"Transformation and Retrenchment: A Study of the Roman
Empire from the "Other" Sides. This brought together
teachers from four disciplines from BLA and Buckingham
Browne and Nichols schools. Caroline has also held the
Coulter Scholarship for summer study from CANE and
studied and worked in Italy, Greece, France and Turkey on
many occasions.
At BLA Caroline is a Lead Teacher,
that is one whose instruction is a model for others. May
there be many more like her!
Mindy Goodman
has taught Latin, along with French, to 7th and 8th
graders for thirty-one years at the F.A. Day Middle
School in Newton, MA. She received her B.A. in Latin from
Boston University and an M.A. in Classics from Tufts
University.
In her first year, Mindy Goodman
taught 26 students Latin. After ten years, she was
teaching 220 students Latin in the same school. Last year
nearly half the 7th graders in the school elected to
study Latin. And although four middle schools feed into
the Newton North High School, her students account for
over 90% of those taking Latin there. A Latin teacher at
that high school, Robert Mitchell, writes that in a
recent AP Vergil class 14 of the 15 students were former
students of Mindy's and that 13 of them studied classics
in college as a major or minor.
Letters from colleagues, students and
parents make it clear that Mindy makes Latin and the
Roman come alive for classes in an unforgettable way. In
the words of her Principal, "Ms. Goodman conveys to her
students that their world is an interrelated one, full of
interesting and important connections....Students
routinely look for connections in other parts of their
lives and bring their discoveries to class". Mindy
manages to roam far and wide. A colleagues describes a
lesson on Hannibal that includes Livy, the history of
Carthage, world history, etymology and science. "All this
while...a text suited for those first learning to read
the language is being parsed and thoroughly explained"
The same colleague speaks of "a magic rhythm to her class
that captivates a student's interest and nurtures it with
vibrant wit seasoned with gentle humor and great good
learning."
Another colleague writes that Mindy
creates a supportive environment where students are
encouraged to take chances with a friendly "keep going"
and "take a guess". A student writes of Mindy's help with
homework for another class even during her lunch hour.
The same student continues: " I love her classes. They
are so interesting I wouldn't even think of tuning out
during Latin". Students also help Mindy produce a column
for the school paper, "Latin Scholars Know the
Answer".
A letter from one parent well
represents the feelings of all who " Mrs. Goodman has
made language come alive for her students, and I can't
imagine a greater gift. The children in our family have
come home eagerly explaining the derivations of words and
everyday phrases...Chemistry equations will eventually be
forgotten, and historic dates may drift to the far
reaches of their minds, but these young people will
forever be enthralled with the language they use every
day of their lives....".Many teachers are creative. Many
teachers win the respect and fondness of their students.
Mindy Goodman can be singled out because, in addition to
these things, she creates what she terms 'Latin
scholars'. These students enjoy learning Latin and will
carry her lessons with them forever."
Mindy continually learns from her
'Latin scholars'. In the words of the Talmud which she
quotes, "each child has something to teach me". But she
also models for them a tenacious devotion to language in
general and Latin in particular. She has fought to keep
Latin in the curriculum in Newton , has given workshops
for other teachers and took the lead in writing standards
for the teaching of Latin in Newton. In the words of her
Principal, Mindy is "a worthy ambassador for the teaching
profession itself".