"Why Study Greek?"

Edward Hobbs EHOBBS at WELLESLEY.EDU
Wed Dec 15 16:29:29 EST 1999


Karen Pitts gave about as happy a response to this question as one could 
wish.  Let me add a short letter written to entering students at Wellesley 
last summer by Lynn Sherr (well-known ABC News correspondent and one of the 
biggies on "20/20").

-The letter---------

Dear About-to-be Wellesley Student:

	This is a chance for me to show you what studying classical Greek 
can do for your life.
	I know because I was a Greek major at Wellesley.  Yes, it baffled 
my parents until the day I was graduated.  Yes, it continues to strike 
colleagues as quaint.  And no, it is probably not why I got my job as a 
correspondent with the ABC News program 20/20.
	But I'm awfully glad I did it.  I think I'm a better writer for it. 
I'm sure I understand language more intimately.  And I know that no other 
course would have allowed me to play a frog in Aristophanes' _The Frogs._
[performed in Greek--ech]
	In short, it was not only enlightening and exciting, it was fun.  
Okay, I'll say it:  Greek made me a better person.  It'll do the same for 
you.  Give it a chance.

Sincerely,

Lynn Sherr

---------------------

As our department's letter added, "Our Greek students have made their 
lvings in banks, operating rooms, courts, television studios, chapels, 
newspaper offices, colleges--and submarines."



Edward Hobbs
Wellesley College





More information about the B-Greek mailing list