PROFILES in EDUCATION

Heidi Houst

Candace Braun

Name: Heidi Houst
School: Princeton Latin Academy
Years Taught: 11 years
Subject/Grade Taught: Latin, third through eighth grade; Philosophy, sixth
through eighth grade
Education: bachelor's degree in Latin, Greek from Rutgers University;
master's degree in Latin, Greek from Boston University
Most Memorable Book: The Iliad, by Homer
Person You Admire: "Our headmaster, Francesco Perrulli. I had learned a lot
in college, but as far as teaching goes, I learned everything from him. He's
fantastic; someone said he could teach a stone to speak...He understands
what the motivation is for each child to learn."

Demonstrating a true love of education is one of the most positive influences a teacher can have on her students. That's why Heidi Houst, a Latin and philosophy instructor at Princeton Latin Academy, continues to keep alive the love of school that she's had ever since she was a child.

The private school teacher said she was so adamant about attending school as a child that she complained when she was too young to go with her older siblings: "I wanted to go to school all the time and know everything that my brothers and sisters knew."

Ms. Houst attributes her love of education to her own teachers: "I think you need a good teacher to want to learn, and I had some tremendous teachers. They were an inspiration to me."

Studying Greek and Latin in college, Ms. Houst has always had an interest in the ancient languages of the world, because "the best way to really know the ancient mindset is to know their language."

Ms. Houst first learned the importance of having a firm grasp on language when she taught freshman English as a graduate student at Boston University, where many of the students appeared to lack the basic language training needed to write a paper for a course. This made her realize the importance of having that training as a child.

"[English] grammar isn't taught anymore," she said. "But you really have to study it like any other language or discipline."

That's why when Ms. Houst saw an opening at the Princeton Latin Academy, she knew she had found her place. A private school dedicated to teaching a classic education based on language and grammar --it was exactly the kind of institution she was looking to become a part of.

"It seemed like this job was made for me. I came right from graduate school to here and this is the only place I've ever taught."

Learning a Language

At the Latin Academy, children are taught English, Latin, Greek, and a modern language such as Italian, Spanish, or French. While an uncommon practice in many schools, teaching a foreign language to younger students is actually easier, because they have a "tremendous memory," said Ms. Houst, adding that children should learn a second language before they reach puberty, when the amount of information they are able to process slows down.

"It's really in learning another language that you understand your own language, which is important to do before puberty," she said.

While language skills must be broken down into several steps with younger children, their ability to memorize is much greater, said the Latin teacher. The important thing to do is to allow students to work at their own pace: "We've had children finish all of Latin grammar in a year and a half and then others take two or three years."

Ms. Houst also teaches philosophy in middle school, a time when children are "at the age of reason," she said. She started the class a few years ago as a way to teaching students the intellectual adventure of man as he has travelled through the ages: "It's more than just learning facts and figures; it's about learning about yourself and your place in the universe."

Since philosophy is a course usually only offered in college, Ms. Houst says she breaks the learning process down into several steps, making connections between the philosophical ideas and how they relate to the history of the world. Children are able to grasp the concepts, she said: "Kids don't have the vocabulary and experience, but what they don't have there they make up for in their intellect."

Besides going over the information several times to make sure all the students understand, she also gives brief weekly tests covering the material to make sure that students understand all the concepts that have been taught to them.

School Involvement

Busy with a two-year-old son that Ms. Houst said she plans to send to the Latin Academy, the teacher only conducts classes in the morning. Even so, she has found ways to keep involved in other school activities.

When there was no one else to make costumes for the annual children's opera, Ms. Houst found herself in charge, despite having no background in sewing. After teaching herself how to make the costumes, she now not only makes clothing for all the school shows, but also for friends and family.

"When the kids get into costume they just light up," she said. "It really changes them and I like that."

The teacher has also found other ways to serve the school on an as-needed basis, in positions such as the business manager, admissions director, and events coordinator.

"This isn't just a job," she said. "It just makes everything that much more meaningful to you when you make a difference in the children's lives."

Teaching her classes in a very traditional way, Ms. Houst said that she feels the biggest issue confronting education today is trendiness, as educators are always experimenting and looking for new ways to teach students. The elements of a good education have always been there, and changing them as students go through school only confuses them: "You don't need computers and fancy equipment. You just need a piece of chalk and a willing mind."

To recommend an educator for the Profiles in Education, contact Candace Braun.