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Monday, June 22, 2009

Reason One for a Classical School

First, a classical approach is specifically designed to teach the student to think. No doubt every school in America would at least claim that they are teaching their students to think, but in a classical approach this is central (see the 'The Lost Tools of Learning' by Dorothy Sayers in a previous post).

One of the many benefits of being a Christian is that we understand God to be the author of all reason and understanding and to have endowed men and women with such faculties that he intends for them to employ. Deut. 32:29 says "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" (KJV). No doubt there are things beyond reason, but in a typical day, it would seem that the Lord calls upon us to think!

As an aside, this is one of the things I love about 'reformed' theology, in that those who adhere to it understand themselves as "reformed and always reforming." One obviously needs a mind to do this, and we are also called upon to love God with all of our mind (Matt. 22:37). So, a classical approach towards education, rather than just giving you a thought to hold between your ears, is specifically designed to train up, strengthen and hone one's mental faculties. And this can then be utilized to the glory of God. Perhaps the analogy of teaching a man to fish versus simply giving him a fish applies. We live in a changing world, and we need to be mentally fit to consider whatever new idea will be introduced tomorrow.

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