Exeter Hosts Second NHJCL Convention
The Academy hosted the New Hampshire Junior Classical League’s (NHJCL) second annual state convention last Saturday, April. 2. Classics scholars from middle and high schools from across New Hampshire and Vermont visited campus for the day to study archaeology, mythology, history, literature and language, to engage in gladiatorial combat in the cage and to race chariots on Exeter’s athletic fields. The convention allowed classics enthusiasts to convene and discuss their shared passion for Roman history, culture and language.
The Junior Classical League (JCL) is a national society comprised of scholars in middle and high school united by their interest in the classics. State chapters of the JCL hold events throughout the year in which students attend presentations by leading classics scholars and use their knowledge of the classics to compete and win prizes for their school teams.
“The one thing they all have in common is a love for the classics, and the Forum creates a setting for students to celebrate that love and to make new friends across the state.”
Students began the day by taking a series of tests: Roman history, mythology, Latin derivatives, grammar and the “pentathlon,” which was comprised of a variety of subject areas. Afterward, they had lunch in Grainger Auditorium while upper Lyle Seeligson and lower Timothy Han presented their methods for teaching Latin to middle-schoolers, who may not have access to a classics program.
In the afternoon, students separated into groups of four and headed to the Academy Building to compete in a few rounds of Certamen, a Latin quiz bowl. A round of Certamen consists of 20 questions that test students’ knowledge of the Latin language, Roman culture, history and mythology. For many students, Certamen is their favorite part of the day. “Certamen is a great way that the classics community has inspired a love of Latin in students,” Han said.
After two rounds of Certamen, the whole group proceeded to the Thompson Cage to partake in gladiatorial combat. Students were pitted against each other, fighting with foam swords or spears. Eventually Unger, the judge of the combat, declared lower Alexis Lee as victor. He then led the group to the athletic fields for chariot racing.
Exeter has four small wooden chariots that are pulled by two students while a charioteer rides and encourages. Upper Stone Sulley, one of the Exonians who pulled the Kirtland Society’s chariot, said that although he enjoyed the race, it turned out to be more strenuous than he expected. “I didn’t expect it to be that hard. I row crew, so I thought I’d be ready for anything, but I wasn’t ready for the chariot races,” Sulley said.
After the chariot races, all of the students reconvened in the Assembly Hall to vote for next year’s state officers. Seeligson was re-elected as a Consul. Then, Unger and Roy Starling, a classics instructor from the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, handed out awards. Upper Bliss Perry received an award for the Latin derivative test, Han received awards for the Roman history and pentathlon tests and lower Grace Pan received an award for the Latin grammar test. Exeter’s Intermediate Certamen team placed first in the intermediate level.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, students remarked on the enthusiasm of the instructors and their creative event ideas. Abigail Siagian, a junior at Dover High School, said that she was looking forward to the NHJCL convention because she was impressed by the events and competition last year. “It was a way to meet other schools in the area. We got to make friends,” Siagian said.
Sabrina Chan, also a junior attending Dover High School, said that she enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the convention. “I think Latin is really fun, seeing how it connects to the modern world,” said Chan.
Westin Su, a sophomore from Exeter High School, said he enjoyed the convention and how the events have improved from last year’s. “I enjoyed the gladiator fight—it’s always been fun to do. It’s my second year, it’s a lot more involved than last time. They have a better understanding of how things run,” Su said. Sterling agreed with Su, saying that he especially liked the gladiatorial combat. “It was a phenomenal event and the gladiator fights were about the most fun I’ve had.” He also added that he loves the passion for classics that Unger inspires in his students. “[It’s great] just to see the kids walking around, whether it’s in costume or as gladiators or taking tests or doing Certamen, and I think Mr. Unger has a really brilliant concept of some service, some camaraderie, some competition and some fun, all mixed into one event.”
Next year, Exeter hopes to host the third New Hampshire Junior Classical League convention and attract even more students. As the years go by, they have high hopes for a larger number of attendees.
Unger said that his goals for starting the NHJCL convention were simple: to inspire students to love the classics just as much as he does. “The primary goal of the Forum is to cultivate a community,” Unger said. “Like the Greek poleis, schools that attended are very different: some are public, some are private, some are big, some are small, but the one thing they all have in common is a love for the classics, and the Forum creates a setting for students to celebrate that love and to make new friends across the state.”
Contributions from Andrew Hong