What is Classical Education?

Classical education has a rich 2500 year history. It began in the time of Plato and Aristotle, matured during the Middle Ages, and continued as the predominant form of education for America’s Founders. Educational trends come and go, but the classical approach is timeless, rigorous and still relevant.

The classical philosophy is regaining momentum across the country. Classical schools are consistently scoring at the top of state and national rankings and their students enter college and careers as articulate scholars and citizens.

Classical education advances a core of knowledge. Citizens need to know historical facts, geography, the scientific method, and a core of truths to achieve cultural literacy. Absent of this core knowledge, the individual is culturally illiterate and intellectually deprived.

Classical education stresses a strong civic understanding. In order to become virtuous and productive citizens, students must understand America’s founding principles including inalienable rights, natural law, American constitutionalism and the free market system. Students should not only read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but understand them.

Classical education is language intensive with an emphasis on learning Latin. Learning Latin affords students critical knowledge of English grammar and a basis for studying other foreign languages. Since more than half of English words derive from Latin, students will considerably improve their ability to build an exhaustive English vocabulary.

Virtue is the foundation upon which classical education is built. Virtue is the beginning of an excellent education. From the time of the ancients to the Founders of America, classical education holds that the practicing of virtue is the key to true happiness. Anchoring education in the four ancient virtues of temperance, fortitude, justice and prudence teaches students to love the good, the beautiful, and the true.