The Three C’s

Christian

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Pr. 1:7). True learning begins with acknowledging that all things have been created by and for Christ, and that it is through him that all things hold together (Col. 1:17). A classical Christian education recognizes that God has revealed Himself through the beauty of creation (Rom. 1:20) and that creation itself declares the glory of God (Ps. 19). Consequently, there is a purpose and coherence to the cosmos, and we should not be surprised to find that separate “subjects” share a common thread of unity and glory (Deut. 6:4). While we have a time set aside every day specifically to study the Bible, what truly makes this a Christian program is how all things are taught with the goal of showing the truth, goodness, and glory of the Lord. Since children are more than receptacles of data, we believe education must go beyond supplying information, but instead training children how to learn, reaching to shape the child’s character and cultivate godly wisdom. Parents are commanded to train up our children in the paideia of the Lord. This word paideia means a complete training and discipline of the whole person: heart, mind and body. Deuteronomy 6:4 commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength. Joining parents, we seek to tune the hearts and minds of our children to see and savor Jesus, so that we and our children may cry out together with the apostle Paul:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11: 33-36)

Classical

We choose the classical model of education because it fits so naturally with biblical principles. Classical education is a conscious continuation of the academic methods that sparked the blossoming of Western Christendom over the past thousand years. In the western world, our theology, way of life, laws and social customs have all been handed down to us from the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. As the gospel spread throughout the ancient classical world, the early Christians developed a teaching method that revolved around the Seven Liberal Arts. This method grew and developed into the Middle Ages and had remarkable success. The first three of these Seven Liberal Arts is called the Trivium. Our adoption of the Trivium as a method of instruction is essential to the formation of a classical program. 

True comprehension of any subject lies in mastering three elements: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The early grammar stage is what we call the Poet stage where learning takes place through narrative and story. Students grow to understand who they are, why they are here and learn to wonder at the world around us. From there one must learn the facts (grammar), one must understand the principles behind the facts (logic), and finally, one must be able to articulate and apply those principles to life (rhetoric). Although each of these elements are present to some degree at every throughout a person’s life, the trivium recognizes the natural stages of child development and seeks to educate along the grain in these stages. Thus, it can generally be said that children in the Grammar stage (grades K-6) are situated ideally for exposure to great literature, music, and language (both mathematical and linguistic). Their minds readily absorb information and thus their education focuses on acquiring facts and exposing them to beautiful truth in God’s world through stories, chants, songs and other techniques. This early learning provides the building blocks for future learning. Biblically, this “stage” correlates to the early history of Israel and the priority of the Priest. In the Logic phase (approximately grades 7-9), the student’s capacity for abstract thought increases. Children are encouraged to investigate the “why” behind the “what”, are taught to ask good questions, and are introduced to formal logic. Students learn to apply their understanding of principles to specific situations, much like Solomon discerning the true mother of the baby (I Kings 3:27) at the height of Israel’s “King stage.” The final stage of the trivium (grades 10-12) is Rhetoric, where students learn to express their thoughts clearly, elegantly, persuasively, and in love for their neighbors. In biblical terms, they begin to assume a more Prophetic role, honing skills in taking Truth to the nations.

Collaborative

Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6 make it clear that fathers are required to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Our program seeks to come alongside families, assisting them in their pursuit of Christian classical education within a nurturing community, spurring one another on to love and good works (Heb. 10:24), as iron sharpening iron (Pr. 27:12). The collaborative model of education is known by several names, including blended, university-style, and hybrid model. Collaborative education means that the student’s instructional time is divided between classroom and home. In collaborative education, classroom instruction occurs 2 days per week and is led by an equipped teacher. On non-class days, the student remains at home to complete his or her lesson plans under the guidance and instruction of parents. The work for home days is provided by the classroom teacher so that the parent and classroom teacher work in tandem to complete the lessons.

Logic students are growing in their independence and rely more heavily on classroom instruction. Rhetoric students do not generally need any at home instruction for their Oaks classes, but this does not diminish parental responsibility. Parental involvement and oversight on home days is part of the glorious balance that makes this model successful. Parents assist students with executive function skills, editing papers and general time management and accountability.