Why Classical Education? What’s the difference?
MODERN EDUCATION
Man-centered education
Education for information
Development of correct procedures –“How?”
Emphasis on politically correct
Self-actualization, personal peace & affluence
Fragmented and disjointed learning
Requires the student to learn how to pass tests
Graduation as the ultimate goal
CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Christ-centered education
Education for formation
Development of critical thinking – “Why?”
Emphasis on the true, good and beautiful
Truth is objective, knowable and absolute
Integrated interdisciplinary learning
Requires the student to learn how to learn
Lifelong love of learning as the ultimate goal
Source: Midland Christian School
We are christIAN
We believe the aim of education to be the formation of the whole person. Student should come to know what is true—to love and walk in it. Rather than simply acquiring knowledge, the goal of education has traditionally been to obtain virtue and wisdom. Understanding is received from Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:13, Col 2:1-4) and scripture tells us that all things are bound together in Christ, therefore, we cannot come to know what is true apart from Him (Jn 14:6). For this reason biblical education should not be taught in isolation, but in relation to all subjects, implementing methods designed to form students based on the way God has uniquely shaped them at the various stages of life.
The GOAL OF CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The aim of education is wisdom, virtue and eloquence.
• How we teach should instill a love for learning, authority and virtue.
• What we teach provides the tools for how to think, rather than simply information, or what to think.
The Method (Pedagogy)
The classical model is derived from the Liberal Arts tradition. In our context, we apply the Trivium: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric—acknowledging the various stages of growth. These three stages focus on understanding language, learning to think well, and communicate truth with eloquence.
The Content (Curriculum)
Classical education revolves around what are often referred to as the Great Books. These books are written by authors such as Homer, Dante, Aristotle, and St. Augustine. These books embody an enduring wisdom that shapes both the heart and mind. Furthermore, we study Latin, write in cursive, and appreciate the arts. Goodness and truth, are often communicated by means that which is beautiful. We believe that taste is cultivated, therefore, we take every opportunity to demonstrate beauty inside and outside of the classroom.
The Goal
Our method of teaching, and the content that is used, is all aimed at achieving our goal—that students would come, not just to know, but to love what is good, true and beautiful.
“whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Our curriculum: Memoria Press
The Classical Core Curriculum is a complete classical Christian curriculum that emphasizes the traditional liberal arts of language and mathematics and the cultural heritage of the Christian West as expressed in the great works of history and literature.
The curriculum has an early focus on the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic and a special emphasis on Latin. Latin is the best way to gain an academic vocabulary, to learn the formal system of grammar, and is, along with math, the best early critical thinking skills training.
The curriculum’s study of the cultures of Athens and Rome, as well as Biblical and Church history, is designed to provide a basis for a proper understanding of European and American history. Latin and Greek word origins are also explored to help give our children a better grasp of the English language.
