message tuesday

  In a recent meeting of our teachers the question was raised about the purpose of education today.  As it turns out, this is one place where the classical education and the ideals of our public system of education seem to be increasingly divergent.  Truly, most people don’t sit around (like me) and think about why they children go to school, or what the specific desired outcomes are, but, if asked, it’s most likely they would say something related to college or career readiness.  Don’t we send children to school so they can eventually get a good job?

 In the classical tradition, the goal of education is “the cultivation and nourishment of a human soul on truth, goodness, and beauty by means of the seven liberal arts, such that students realize their humanitas (what it means to be human, civilized and kind) and acquire wisdom, virtue, and eloquence” (Perrin, p20).  In other words, a fully educated classical student is not a “widget” trained for a specific job, but a student who has a broad understanding of the world around them, and is able to fully participate in the greater cultural conversation.  As a by-product, students well-trained in the classical model are highly capable college students who can choose any career path because they have portable skills and have mastered the learning process.   

As a classical Christian school, the staff and I are committed to mastering this model of education so we can work with you to develop students who understand what it means to be educated in a way that allows them to enjoy the full life Jesus indicated was possible in John 10:10.   This is why we go to school.

Have a superb week!

Brenda