Classical & Christian

Introduction

At Harvest Christian School, we view curriculum as one of many important tools necessary in meeting our academic goals. While just a tool, we believe it is the most important one and thus it is essential that we are extremely thoughtful, deliberate and proactive with our curriculum choices. In choosing curriculum, we consider its fit with our vision and philosophy, its sustainability and its reputation, among other things. The goal is to choose curriculum that meets our academic objectives and pedagogical goals. We also desire to create a flow from one grade to another that will culminate in a comprehensive and thorough scope and sequence of concepts and ideas by the time a student graduates from Harvest.

What do we mean by Classical and Christian?

As a Classical and Christian school, we have chosen curriculum that lends itself to the content and pedagogy of this philosophy. We are first and foremost a Christian school that teaches all subjects through the lens of a Biblical worldview. As a classical school, we differ from modern education in this way; Modern education focuses on teaching subjects while Classical educators emphasize teaching students the tools of learning that they might be lifelong learners. We strive to not only teach our students reading, writing, and math, but we strive to teach them to think so that they have the tools to pursue whatever they desire to do beyond their high school years. Dorothy Sayers sums up this idea well, "For the sole end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain".

The philosophy of Classical and Christian education is based on the Trivium or the idea that every subject (math, science, literature etc..) has a grammar, logic and rhetoric element. The grammar of a subject is its “nuts and bolts” or a group of parts, vocabulary, dates and other pieces. The Logic of a subject is the connection between the parts and the understanding of that connection. In this stage, formal Logic class is taught so that students master the art of correct reasoning. The rhetoric of a subject is how it is presented in a way that is cohesive, articulate and relevant. The arts of argument and persuasion are taught and honed in this stage. These stages of the Trivium are lined up with the developmental stages of the child. The boxes below give a model or outline of the Classical philosophy of education.