Latin Summer School, and Some thoughts on Classical Education.

Tomorrow I am off to a Latin Summer School at Wells:

"WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL, SOMERSET

Monday 23rd July - Saturday 4th August.

The 32nd residential JACT Latin Summer School will once again be held at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset. The school, dating from 909, is set in a series of beautiful buildings which form part of the cathedral complex. The Latin Summer School offers students the opportunity for intensive language study, with tutors drawn from both schools and universities. Working in small groups arranged according to experience and ability, the school caters for students at every level from beginner to high-flyer.

http://www.jact.org/summer_schools.html

I have no idea what to expect - and I am hoping that not everyone who attends will be an 18 year old revising for 'A' Levels! I believe there is usually a whole range of ages, so here's hoping I won't be the only one who is a little 'mature'.

Latin has always attracted me, and not only because it was the language of the Catholic Church for so long. There is something mysterious about it, in a way that other languages aren't. I don't know Greek, or Aramaic, or Syriac, but all those ancient languages seem to me to be like 'portals' or invitations to enter another world. Just seeing the ancient scripts are exciting for me. Who were these people who lived so long ago? What were they really like? What were their thoughts when they were alone, what were their hopes and fears? When you translate a writer from the past whom you like, it's as though you have made a personal friend.

Of course, on a practical basis, learning a subject like Latin is supposed to help you to think more deeply etc. And if I had younger children I would be thinking seriously about trying to give them a grounding in the classics. For me it is a purely personal pleasure, but I found the article below very interesting. It is taken from the website of an American 'Classical Christian' School, and I think it expresses very persuasively the benefits from a Christian point of view, of Classical education.  

I have cobbled  three of their articles together, but to read them separately go to: http://www.bhcca.org/#

"What does a Classical Education Do?

In graduate school, I have learned the importance of teaching kids to think. Is that a new concept? How do students transfer information they have learned and apply it to new paradigms? That interestingly enough, is also not a new concept! Douglas Wilson says, “The point to classical education is to teach students to think, and giving them the tools to reason things out for themselves.” Early on, back as far as Shakespeare’s education and even just back to George Washington, they studied with a classical education. Classical education works, and is alive and breathing! Progressive education says if it isn’t new, it isn’t worth learning. Well, classical education disagrees. As Susan Wise Bauer says, “Classical education is a three part process of training the mind”. These steps include the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages. Without one of these stages, a student does not receive a complete classical education. Many of the good minds down through history learned from a classical education!

Thirty years ago, Logos school founded by Douglas Wilson, in Moscow, Idaho began teaching classical education. They turn out not a huge graduate class every year, but about 28-30 students at the top of the academic paradigm in the country. We have had about a dozen graduates in the last nine years. We began with one or two graduates a year, and still are graduating students almost every year. Is our school for everyone? Some believe not, and I believe it can be done for most students. Does it take work? Yes, it does. What have our kids done after graduation? Almost all of our graduates have attended post high school education programs. Several now have graduated from four year universities, and one is pursuing graduate school at this time. At this time, all of our students that have entered university level are successful and doing well in their pursuits. What will a twelve year classical student look like? I believe it will be exciting to see! Many of our graduates entered our school in high school, and several came through middle school here at SCCS. A few entered our school at an upper elementary level. We have not been in existence for 12 years yet, to see a student begin and come through the ranks!

How is Classical Christian Education Different than just Christian Education?

Classical education has a distinct bent. It is a distinctive approach to learning, not just a textbook or an element of our curriculum. It is a holistic approach that is entrenched in all SCCS does. It gives students a strong content base at the grammar level. Grammar is the first level of classical education. Grammar students learn history from the four distinct divisions of history: Ancients, The Middle Ages, Renaissance- Reformation, and Modern. Susan Wise Bauer says, in effect, that students should cover these four levels two times in twelve years. Other studies covered in the grammar stages are: solid grammar and English skills such as spelling, vocabulary, cursive writing, American History, South Dakota history, and geography skills are some that we cover. Math facts are an important element of learning in the classical style. We also have a Bible program that not only teaches the Bible as the infallible Word of God, but teaches the Bible as History. Our Bible program not only does those things but also teaches a Christian Worldview. How is a worldview different than just teaching Christian principles? Teaching

Christian Worldview is taught in every subject area and affirmed in Christian Ethics and Rhetoric. Students are not only taught to defend their faith, but to carry the Word of God to the world. Some of the successful classes taught in classical Christian schools that are not seen in traditional Christian schools are: Latin, Christian Ethics and Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Rhetoric, and Formal Logic. History is taught as a specific subject, and not included in a text book as social studies. The upper two facets of classical learning are the dialectic and rhetorical stages. These are the three stages of the Trivium that classical education follows: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. The following explanation is provided for each level:

Grammar Stage—Students are taught through content and memorization. Basic tenants of each subject are taught through song, chant, and memorization. A solid content of each subject is learned to give students a solid base for all core subjects. That solid foundation is set through facts and content.

Logic Stage—Students begin to think abstractly at this age. At this stage formal logic is taught, and comparisons are used in teaching of subject areas. Students can understand analogies, metaphors, and other literary devices. Students can compare different peoples in history and different applications of most subject matter. Writing skills are honed at this important phase of the dialectic.

Rhetoric Stage—Students are taught the principles of debate, speech, and speaking skills. Students are taught different essay formats and how to write research papers. Upper level classes such as chemistry, Ethics, and the reading of Shakespeare’s works and other great writers are tackled. Students begin to pursue their personal bents to prepare for post high school learning. Students learn to defend their faith and influence others with their ideas.

Is Classical Education worth the Time and Effort?

I believe it is!! Not just because it is what SCCS uses, but the statistics and evidence says it does. There are many classical schools in the nation, even public charter schools. Classical education is not for the weak-hearted teacher. Our teachers have to put in more concentrated time to learn content, teach something that they did not learn as students, and learn new paradigms of thinking. For parents, it takes effort for homework time, and also the parents helping their students with subjects they did not learn as a child.      

According to the classical education authors, academics take the front seat in a child’s learning and life. Of course, a balance is necessary for every student. It helps them develop their likes and personal bents as a student. Students retain their individual talents and build their core knowledge skills.

Reading and writing are at the foundation of classical education. Students learn a wide content base that is focused on Western Civilization thinking. Classical Christian education is strong in “great” books that focus on the Antithesis with the Biblical base of good and evil. Students are taught to think and relate their readings on their relationship with God.    

It is a liberal arts education. This is not a “liberal” education as related to liberal versus conservative, but an education that is well balanced in all areas including art, music, physical education, math, science, language arts and philosophy. Susan-Wise Bauer says classical education is based on language as a written word not visual learning. The written word takes a front seat to videos, television, and pictures. The brain is active with reading words and symbols vs. the video world. This opens up the written word paradigm for student learning.

Why Latin?

Lastly, why does the classical school teach Latin. Latin is the mother language of all the Romance Languages. These include: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. As much as 60% of English derives its vocabulary from the Latin. Latin teaches a better understanding of our own English language.              Learning Latin gives students an edge to learning additional languages. A friend and linguist, Andrez Reznikov, at BHSU says that a foundation of learning of the Latin language will help students to learn easily any language they undertake. We are one of the few cultures in the world that is not bilingual. Our students need the access to as many languages as possible. …..

Classical education is a journey not an event. I believe it is a journey well-worth any family’s or school’s time. Pass on this article to friends or neighbors that you might have that may be interested in classical Christian education for their child! Check out the research and statistics for yourself!....

Does the Christian Come Before the Classical?

In classical Christian education the Christian worldview is at the forefront of the educational process. Two weeks ago, SCCS had a teacher meeting and we again reiterated the importance of Christian worldview being at the core of what we do. What is teaching from a Christian worldview in relationship to just teaching Christian principles? The Christian Worldview is the center of all we do here at SCCS. Not only, do we teach Bible, but history from a Christian perspective, and all other subjects from a Christian perspective. Bible class is not the only place at SCCS that the students hear about God. That’s why our motto is: Christian Worldview with Academic Excellence. The worldview is before the academics. Yet, why is it important to teach strong academics in a Christian education? That’s why teaching worldview is so much more than just Christian principles.

Why as Christians is it Important to have strong Academics?

God calls us to be leaders as Christians. Can we do this without the ability to defend, explain, and eloquently define what our Christianity means? Who are the Christian leaders of this nation? We need Supreme Court Judges, Christian doctors and lawyers, architects, engineers, scientists, and Christian merchants at the core of our main streets in the city squares.(I probably have forgotten some important fields of study....) These leaders will need to be able to be accepted into our nation’s best universities. No longer are oratory skills taught in our schools, or even most of our Christian schools. Can today’s high school graduates make it in the world without a college education or post-secondary technical training? Not very easily.

Our children need oratory skills to be able to withstand the “fiery darts of the enemy”. (Eph. 6:16) MIT, one of our best technology schools in the world has less than 40% of its students that are Americans. Americans cannot meet the entrance requirements of our best schools. Our schools are being filled with engineers and doctors from other countries. Are academics important? Yes! If we do not fill the need for technology jobs and our top skilled positions in our nation, then they will be filled with people from other countries.

We are dedicated at SCCS to academic excellence and to Christian worldview. They both go hand-in- hand. We cannot be complacent about our children’s education. The United States sits at this time at 54th overall in the world in education. Each year we drop to a lower and lower level. We have fallen below some the world’s developing countries. God calls each parent to be responsible for their child’s education. No Child Left Behind says, “Leave no child behind”. Yet, our nation continues to drop lower and lower in the world’s rank in education. We can no longer be “The Silent Majority” as Christians of 25 or 30 years ago. We must be heard. God calls us to go out and make disciples. Can we do this without being able to spell, speak with good grammar, and write with the skills necessary to convince others to turn to Christ? We are God’s hands and feet. Good academics are not easy or for the faint hearted. Does it take some homework? Yes, it does. Academic rigor is seen as a thing of the past. Now, it is about feeling good and having fun. God does call us to be his best each and every day, and that calling is for our children too."