Articles on Classical Education

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Educare and Educere: Bringing Forth... by Jody Capehart

Educare and educere come from the Latin word for education. It is interesting to note that, while the two words share an etymological basis, they represent different aspects of the education process.

Educare implies the preservation and passing down of knowledge and shaping youths in the in the ways of God as taught in scripture, as well as the wealth of wisdom of those who have gone before us. Parents have been given the task to raise godly children and this training process (education) must be based upon truth. The end goal is to raise children who know Jesus Christ as Savior and act from a biblical worldview. Educare is much like the grammar stage when students are receiving a strong education in each subject. The tradition or rules of each subject are being taught as well as trained; and memorization is an important part of this stage of learning.

[The philosophy of excellence contains the discipline of both duty and living well.] Educere, on the other hand, implies more of a leading out, a bringing forth to prepare a new generation for the changes that are to come. This aspect of the education process is more like the dialectic or logic stage when the student takes what was learned in the grammar stage and begins to evaluate it for truth and reliability.

The closing of our mission statement for Legacy Christian Academy states, “We are preparing strong leaders with Biblical convictions for tomorrow.” Inherent in this statement is both the educare as well as the educere aspects of the education process. Both are necessary to provide balanced education. This takes the students to the rhetoric stage in which they can express their convictions and defend the truth of their biblical worldview. We seek to train our students (educare) so they can, in turn, lead out. (educere). The result is that we are bringing forth leaders through our Christian and classical education, in order to cultivate character to prepare them for God's calling upon their lives.

Classical Education at Legacy Christian Academy by Jody Capehart

Classical education is one of the cornerstones of the philosophy at Legacy Christian Academy. Why classical education? Classical education is the most effective educational tool available to sharpen a Biblical mind. It is the system of education that provided the mental discipline and wisdom of our forefathers. It has been wisely stated that "As Christians, we must see it as our duty to conquer the intellectual arena for Christ."

Christopher A. Perrin, Ph. D., writes in his excellent book, An Introduction to Classical Education, "Education is that vast undertaking of the passing on of wisdom and knowledge of one generation to another. It involves discovery, but also instruction; it is cultural transmission."

Why A Return To Classical Education?

G. K. Chesterton said that every revolution is a restoration – the capturing and re-introduction of something that once guided and inspired people in the past. The word revolution is from the Latin word re-volvere –to re-roll or re-turn. A revolution is that thing which goes around, comes around—again. To put it another way, C.S. Lewis says that when we have lost our way, the quickest way forward is usually to go home. We are returning, we are revolving and going back to what has worked in the past. Classical education is the system that educated our forefathers, and we can see the foundation that has been laid for our country.

Gratitude, according the renowned G.K. Chesterton, is the truest sign of happiness in individuals. Through classical education, we pay our respect and express our gratitude to the past. Tracy Lee Simmons from the Hillsdale College states, "If, in fact, ‘the past is prologue,’ it is only the past that can instruct and guide us." It provides a moral compass in a world that has lost its way.

Is Classical Education Relevant Today?

It has taken modern education fifty years to disassemble an education system that was established and refined for thousands of years. Classical education was born in ancient Rome and by the 16th century was used throughout the Western World. This is the system that educated world’s philosophers and scientists between the 10th and 19th century in which the greatest advancements in literature, art, music and philosophy took place.

The education of our children must be rooted in a strong moral foundation that answers the significant questions of life and must be rigorously committed to equipping students with the intellectual tools to live influential and meaningful lives in our world.

Classic implies anything that has enduring value and excellence. Christopher A. Perrin, Ph.D. writes, "Classical Education is authoritative, traditional and enduring form of education, begun by the Greeks and Romans, developed through history and is now being renewed and recovered in the 21st century."

Classical connotes something worthy of our respect. Great art, music and literature inspire the imagination and train the brain for higher thoughts. History reveals the providential hand of God. Through the Trivium, students are educated, learn to evaluate ideas and express their thoughts in an intelligent manner. Dr. John Seel writes that "The goal of classical Christian education is to equip our students with a pre-modern intellect of truth and knowledge so they can engage in a post-modern relativistic culture."

At Legacy Christian Academy, it is our mission and vision to empower our students through an education that is both Christian and Classical. Our programs are designed to prepare strong leaders with Christ-like character who will prayerfully make wise decisions as they seek God’s calling upon their lives.