Classical Education Guidelines

I. Teaching is important in classical education. The teacher is the guide, the coach, the facilitator, the mentor, and the specialist.

II. There is authority in classical education. While dilemmas will arise that require circumspection and academic acumen, there is a right answer.

III. In the Rhetoric stage of classical education, there is a presumption that the student has a basic knowledge of the humanities and knowledge. Furthermore, there is a presumption that the student can read and write critically in an age-appropriate manner.

IV. The curriculum is cognitive-developmentally based, inquiry prejudiced, and student-centered. If the program is a Christian based, classical education event, then the curriculum is clearly, unapologetically, chauvinistically Christo-centric.

V. Because of the benefits of Rhetoric in the cognition process, the student writes substantial essays often. Essay and forensic exercises are the primary form of evaluation.

VI. Class size is normally small to facilitate didactic instruction, coaching, and Socratic interchange.

VII. The library available to a classical education program must reflect the variety and breath of a classical education.

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