Aletheia Christian School

A Classical Education

A first word about classical education: classical education is not new—it is tried and true. In the western world, our way of life, our theological and intellectual history, our laws and social customs have all been handed down to us through a long line of civic, philosophical, and religious tradition. In other words, our culture has grown from the heritage of the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. Previously, all students were educated in this "classical" tradition, until a large-scale pedagogical shift of only recent generations. In this sense, “classical” education seeks to restore education to its roots.

Second, classical education is consistent with a Christian view of life and the world. The curriculum includes the following three areas: the grammar stage concerns the particulars of any given subject, its "nuts and bolts;" the logic stage involves learning the reasoning which ties all the various "nuts and bolts" together; and the rhetoric stage teaches students to express what they've learned in a compelling and persuasive way. Classical educational methods align these three content areas with children's innate abilities. So, from the grammar stage in elementary school—where children are taught to imitate and memorize in each subject, through chanting or copying—to the dialectic stage in junior high—where students take a class in formal logic—to high school instruction in speaking with passion and persuasion, the various stages coincide with the innate abilities and desires of the students.

Third, classical education is about tools. Classical education provides the students with tools for learning. This is not for the purpose of simply having knowledge, but rather so that students might gain knowledge that can be applied in understanding and interpreting events in their lives and in the world. We desire that our students know the Truth, which will have a great impact on them and the world as they live out the Truth.

Fourth, classical education is western education. Classical education gets back to the roots of our own nation, and to the western traditions of Greece and Rome. Classical education teaches an appreciation of other cultures from the standpoint of knowing and loving our own cultural tradition. In the classical model, the great western educational tradition is pursued: reading of great literature, studying history from a western perspective, and learning Latin.

Fifth, classical education involves learning Latin—a language which makes all other subjects come alive. Beginning in the third grade, students learn the basics of Latin, enabling their understanding of English to develop solidly, giving them an appreciation for the roots of the English language, and teaching them to think more precisely (as Latin is an inflected language which "fits" together in a very orderly way).

Sixth, classical education is both "sweet and useful"—Aletheia's school motto, dulce et utile. Fallen man thinks in boxes: if something is useful, beauty is not relevant; and if something is beautiful, it is probably not handy. On the contrary, sweetness and beauty are not, in a classical education, "extras" to be added on, but are together at the heart of learning well. It is mixing of the good, lovely, and sweet, with what is practical and useful, which makes for a true education.

Finally, classical education is an ordinary education. There is nothing extraordinary about classical education. It is an education that will challenge each individual to live up to his or her potential. We are committed to making our school accessible to any who are willing to apply themselves to excellence, regardless of their background, income level, race, or national origin. The fact is that an ordinary education should be about parents and students who are eager to work hard and truly experience the joy of learning, which in reality is extraordinary...