Christian & Classical Education
What do we mean by Christian Education?
Since God’s truth is revealed in the Bible and
in His creation, we teach that knowledge is interrelated and can instruct
us about God Himself. We seek to integrate God’s truth and love
into the academic, physical, social, and spiritual education of each
student. Ideals and standards of scholarship consistent with the understanding
of the lordship of Jesus Christ are continually fostered. Students are
encouraged to view their world through God’s truth.
Parents, teachers, and students are all expected
to take an active role in the learning process. We believe that education
is most effective when the responsibility for learning is shared among
all those involved.
What do we mean by “classical”
education?
One of the most valuable developments of western civilization,
classical education utilizes traditional liberal arts as a means of
instilling wisdom and virtue in our students. Our liberal arts curriculum
is delivered by way of the “Trivium” – a word that
describes three modes of learning: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Grammar
is concerned with the basic facts, rules, and required skills of any
given subject. Logic involves learning to think and reason in the language
of various subjects. And rhetoric requires students to express their
thoughts in a compelling and persuasive manner.
While each area of the Trivium is addressed at every
grade level and in all subjects, the developmental stages of children
lend themselves to particular modes of learning. For this reason, we
emphasize the grammar mode of learning with kindergarteners through
fifth graders, who find skill acquisition and repetition to be easy
and comfortable. Once students begin to question and contradict, overlapping
into fifth grade and up through about the eighth grade, they are ready
to emphasize logic. As students begin to know, think about, and explain
their world, they are being prepared to begin their lifelong pursuit
of truth, goodness, and beauty.
