Thanks to David Goodwin and the Ambrose Group for allowing us to post from their booklet, “Discover Classical Christian Education, A Parent’s Essential Guide“. Visit the Ambrose Group website, a non-profit group dedicated to expanding the reach and influence of classical Christian education.
Modern Education
Democratic: Every student should attain the same level of achievement.
Multi-cultural: Critical of our Western cultural roots, strongly emphasizing imperialism, slavery and historic Christianity as “what is wrong with America”.
Naturalistic: Emphasizes math and science at the expense of art, literature, and history.
Secular: Holds the “spiritual” as personal and separate from education. Avoids deeper philosophical values.
Values-Neutral: All moral positions are relative and hence all positions must be equally treated.
Broken into many subjects: By breaking knowledge into pieces, it can be more carefully studied and thus understood.
Teaches facts and functional skills: Students primarily learn about subjects particularly ones that help them “get good jobs.”
Progressive: Always experimenting with new techniques and methods.
Entertainment learning: Entertain students to engage them in the learning process.
Classical Christian Education
Excellence: Take each student to their highest possible potential.
Western: Recognize the great contribution of Western culture to America and the world, including its triumphs and failures while also recognizing the beauty in other cultures.
Universal: Emphasize the humanities, arts and sciences to bring a full perspective
Integrated: Education is necessarily tied to philosophy and religion in order to train thoughtful students.
Idealism: Standards of right and wrong exist in all subject areas. Students are taught to make judgment accordingly.
Integrated Subjects: Subjects should be taught in an integrated way so that students understand the whole as well as the parts.
Teaches Critical Thinking: Students learn to think beyond the subject-matter. Content is not the goal – wisdom is.
Traditional: Hold to educational standards that have a clear record of success.
Engage and Challenge: Students will meet a high standard and enjoy a sense of achievement.