Q: To what do the terms grammar, logic, and rhetoric refer?
- Stages of a Child’s Development
- Disciplines instead of isolated subjects
- Tools for learning
Q: How does the study of Latin benefit a student?
- Greatly enhances one’s English vocabulary
- Helps students to understand the structure of language (English Grammar)
- Enables one’s mastery of English and results in increased SAT and GRE scores
- It is the mother tongue of romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian)
- Benefits students in studying other languages
Q: How do classical educators differ from progressive educators in teaching subjects?
- Subjects are not self-contained and isolated
- Knowledge is viewed as a web with subject areas intertwined
Q: How might literature choices look different in a classical school? Why is this important?
- The great books are studied, books which have proven themselves by their beauty, great depth, and shaping influence
- By studying the great books, students are learning from the masters
Q: What are requisite tools for a lifetime of learning?
- Students are taught to learn for themselves and be discriminating consumer of knowledge
- Students have mastered language (grammar and vocabulary), logical reasoning, and persuasive, eloquent speaking and writing-these are the tools they will need for life.
- Students have requisite tools (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) to study and master any subject they choose.
Q: How do peace, rigor, and delight figure into a classical education? Why are they important to lifelong learning?
- Classical educators encourage students to live up to their name. They foster zeal, eagerness, and diligence. Classical educators hold before students the beauty and allure of language, history, and math. They appeal to their hearts as well as their minds.
- Classical educators model a passion for learning and study. This is done best in a peaceful environment, with clear rules of student behavior.
- For students to be lifelong learners, in addition to knowing how to learn, they must also fully love and appreciate the act of learning.
Q: How does parental involvement look different for a classical school?
- in loco parentis – parents understand that the school is assisting them to fulfill their responsibility to educate their child(ren).
- Parents do not dictate the curriculum or methods, but their feedback is listened to in order to best understand and educate their child(ren).
- Parents take their responsibility seriously by doing such things as reviewing and helping with homework, encouraging their child to be self-disciplined and diligent, and supporting teachers and staff.
Q: Why is Christian and Classical education such a great marriage?
- Students begin thinking “Christianly” about all areas of life.
- Classical education integrates Christian teaching in every subject.
- Students are equipped to be leaders who “can take every thought captive for Christ” and shape and lead the cultural institutions of our society.
Q: What objections are posed about classical education? Are they valid? Why or why not?
- Some negative impressions that have been formed about classical education is that it is strict, cold, constrained, everything is taught through rote learning, and that expectations about academic performance are unrealistic.
- The truth is that classical schools are not strict and cold. Students learn to be respectful, self-disciplined, and diligent.
- Classical schools are not for the elite. They are typically a cross-section of the community with common ratios of average and gifted students. Classically trained students perform well on tests because classical teaching methods really work and enable students to acquire skill and knowledge. They also acquire diligent and disciplined study habits which can result in superior performance by students of normal intelligence.
