Reviewing content to increase understanding is a critical component of a classical education. So, before we start the next homeschooling series on the classical trivium, “Thinking Critically,” here’s a short primer on classical education.

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Western Civilization was built on the classical education model, and the majority of history’s leaders were trained under this method. Classical education dates back to Ancient Israel, Greece, and Rome. Medieval Europeans, especially leaders of the Christian Church, were classically educated as were the founders of the American Republic. During the 19^th century, the U. S. immigration population soared, and the common school movement was born which effectively obliterated classical education in the United States by the beginning of the 20^th century. With the exception of a minute group of Christian home schoolers, our nation’s leaders are now being trained on the public school conveyor-belt which teaches children what to think and not how to think. (See “The World is Waiting” for a detailed chronology of the history of classical education.)

The classical home education renewal movement is still in its infancy, and many variations in practice exist like the classical model of Charlotte Mason, Susan Wise Bauer, and Oliver Van DeMille. In their excitement to embrace a classical home education, many parents jump right in without really thinking about what distinguishes classical education from other viable homeschooling methods. For example, some would tell you that classical languages like Latin are a critical component of a classical education (more on my opinion of this in a later post!), but the content of the classical education is not nearly as important as the methods by which the content is taught. The trivium and quadrivium provide structure for organizing content while Socratic dialogue and inductive reasoning provide the tools by which to understand the content.

A classical Christian home education is not as difficult as many people believe it to be. In fact, when you know your main objectives, classical homeschooling can be extremely freeing and relaxing while still rigorously challenging both parents and children. There are Three Simple but Significant Steps to a Classical Education:

1. Discard the public school paradigm

2. Teach the Skills of the Trivium

a. Learning the Language

b. Thinking Critically

c. Communicating Effectively

3. Supervise the Study of Subjects

Unlike some proponents of classical homeschooling, I do not view the trivium as distinct phases in the child’s life; rather, I see the trivium as three necessary skill sets that should be substantially mastered before moving on to the deeper study of subjects. Think of these three skills as a continuum of increasing competence. The more the child works on the skill, the better the child becomes at the skill. All three skills begin developing at birth but are not mastered for many years. In fact, you are probably still working on these skills just as I am! There does come a day, however, when you know your child is ready to go deeper into subjects, and it is at that point that you can tailor the study of subjects to the individual tastes and interests of the child.

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“Thinking Critically,” step two of “Teach the Skills of the Trivium,” is the topic of the next series.

Oliver Van DeMille’s story is fascinating and provides the impetus for George Wythe College (of which he is President and founder ) and the composition of A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century which espouses another variation on classical education called “leadership education.”

Prior to the completion of his undergraduate degree, DeMille acutely felt the gap between his expectations and the reality of his textbook education. He greatly desired a deep and broad education which would prepare him to positively impact society. DeMille had read with admiration about the mentor/protégé relationship between George Wythe (signer of the Declaration of Independence) and Thomas Jefferson. He decided to take responsibility for this ‘conveyor-belt’ deficit; he asked an elder scholar to mentor him just as Wythe mentored Jefferson. It was during this unusual course of study that DeMille’s concept of leadership education was born.

According to DeMille, teachers do not educate…they inspire students to educate themselves. Teachers teach; students educate. He argues that education occurs when students get excited about learning. Great teaching leads to excited students.

Using the leadership approach, the two great teachers are mentors and the classics. “Mentors meet face-to-face with the student, inspiring through the transfer of knowledge, the force of personality, and individual attention. Classics were created by other great teachers to be experienced in books, art, music, and other media.” The combination of great mentors and great classics will result in an educated statesman who will apply the depth and breadth of knowledge in practical ways that help others.

Beyond the educational philosophy, DeMille offers concrete steps for facilitating a leadership education. Regarding mentors, he offers 6 fundamental keys: use the classics, personalize the study program, read/write/discuss, apply lessons to life, only accept quality work (“great work” or “do it again”), and set the example by doing all of the above for yourself!

He provides a comprehensive list of age-appropriate classics to read. He contends that future leaders should study the classics because they:

1. teach human nature
2. bring face-to-face with greatness
3. reveal unconquered frontiers
4. force thinking
5. connect cultural stories
6. teach that personal and national canons give life purpose

Finally, DeMille answers frequently asked questions as to how to implement this method and give specific direction as to subject areas.

Much of the direction of the course of study is set by the student as he matures and determines his passions. The concept of depth and breadth require rigorous study on the part of both parents and students; however, the result is likely to be a family of lifelong learners who significantly impact their community.

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To learn more about the “pillars” of leadership education, read the 14 year history of George Wythe College.

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Does “leadership education” sound like a homeschooling education philosophy that you might want to explore? Learn more about it by joining one of the following free Yahoo Discussion Groups. [The descriptions of each group come directly from Yahoo.]

IEW-TJE (382 members)

“Started by a group of Christian women who use The Institute for Excellence in Writing materials, this group discusses the ideas and implementation of “A Thomas Jefferson Education” by Oliver DeMille and “Teaching the Classics” by Adam Andrews in the Christian homeschool. This group does not necessarily reflect the views of IEW.”

MentoringOurOwn (997 members)

“This group is for those of us who are making the transition from the conveyor belt education paradigm and into the world of mentoring our own children. As we apply the principles we are learning, we can share our experiences and new-found understanding with each other, through our articles. Topics appropriate for this site might include, but not be limited to: Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd), Leadership Education (LEd), American Hebraic Classical Leadership Education, 5 Pillars Certification, 5 Pillars of Statesmanship, Liber, Divine Providence, Georgics, Public Virtue, Central Canon/Classic, Gospel Scholar, The Lord’s Library, Family Work, Family Rhythms, Core, Love of Learning, Scholar, Depth, and Mission Phases of life and learning.”

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Have you read about the home education philosophies of John Holt, Charlotte Mason, and the mother-daughter team of Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer yet? Discover that they all encourage love of learning even though different paths are suggested to achieve such a love. How are you doing at verbalizing your own home educational philosophy? If you haven’t done so yet, use 10 Questions: “What Is Your Home Education Philosophy? to determine your family’s philosophy of homeschooling.

Originally written in 1999 by the mother-daughter team, Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (revised in 2004) applies the “Lost Tools of Learning” educational theory of Dorothy Sayers to systematically train the child over a twelve year period. The authors are wildly popular within the classical homeschooling community, and rightly so since they satisfied the desires of the many parents who were not classically educated by providing them with a detailed road map, by grade, for the rigorous content of a classical education.

Learning is organized around 3 main stages in a child’s mental development which hypothetically correlate to the 3 stages of the trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The grammar stage comprises the early elementary years when the child is absorbing facts and experiences like a sponge. Both oral and written narration is key to this stage. During the logic stage, the maturing youth begins to critically analyze information while the rhetoric stage involves the refinement of personal communication skills through public speaking and writing.

History is the foundational building block in this philosophical method and is segregated into 4 major periods: ancient, medieval, renaissance or revolutions, and modern. The family who follows this method all 12 years will rotate through each period of history 3 times.

Science and literature are coordinated with the period of history being studied. For example, when the student studies ancient history, he also studies life science which is what the people of that age would have known. Astronomy is studied with medieval history, chemistry is studied with revolutions, and physics is tackled with modern history.

Classical literature like Homer’s Iliad is read three times. During the grammar stage, the parent reads an abridged picture book version; during the logic stage, the student reads an abridged version. Finally, the student reads the original classic during the rhetoric stage. This pattern lends coherence; as the student matures, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom widens and deepens. Latin, formal logic, art, and music are also covered in this approach.

According to the authors, there are three major characteristics of this philosophy. Primarily, the “well-trained mind” classical education is language-focused; the conversion of words (symbols) into mental concepts requires different skills from those required for image-focused methods. Secondarily, skills are built over time in that knowledge is gained (grammar stage), logical tools are acquired to analyze such knowledge (logic stage) , and reasonable personal conclusions are expressed (rhetoric stage.) Finally, to the classical student, all knowledge is interrelated as evidenced by the coordination of disciplines like history, science, and literature.

Not only do the authors provide a thorough analysis of the philosophy of classical education but they also provide extensive practical application in resource lists and schedule by stage. Although rigorous and demanding on both parents and students, the challenge is beneficial. One caution, however, for the parent who is just beginning the classical education journey: don’t try to do everything that is recommended in The Well-Trained Mind; instead, use it as a reference tool and tailor the suggestions to your own family situation.

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Are you a fan of Susan Wise Bauer’s four volume, Story of the World, history for children? If so, you might want to download a few excerpts of her newest (released March 2007) adult history, The History of the Ancient World, at Susan Wise Bauer’s Blog.

(Plus, I KNOW you would love her blog! This woman is AMAZING!! She and her husband planted a church with her parents, she home schools four kids, and she writes book after book. She is a 1st generation home schooler, so imagine what your own 1st generation “well-trained mind” kids will do when they grow up!)

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If you are interested in sharing ideas with other homeschool parents who relish the home education philosophy of “the well-trained mind,” consider joining one of the following free Yahoo Discussion Groups. [The following descriptions are provided by each Yahoo group.]

WellTrainedMindDscn (2835 members)

“The participants on this list discuss the book “The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home” (TWTM or WTM) by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. Although we have a moderator, we do not have any “experts” — we’re all trying to figure out how to apply these principles in our own home, according to our own experiences. This group is open to all homeschoolers who are interested in learning more about classical education methods. Therefore, although religion may be mentioned, it is not to become a point of contention. The focus of the discussion is to remain on-topic, with short friendly side comments allowed. We will discuss one main topic per week, along with whatever items members want to bring to the group (questions, successes, comments).”

WellTrainedMindFamilies (556 members)

“The families on this list discuss the book “The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home” by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. This group is open to all homeschooling families who are interested in learning more about classical education methods. This list is here to discuss how to implement TWTM into everyday life and all that goes along with it…from legal issues, to book suggestions, to discipline problems, to sleeping issues, to how to teach how to share. We believe homeschooling is 24/7, so for us, basically life is one big school.”

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Read more about the home schooling philosophies of John Holt, Charlotte Mason, and Oliver DeMille, and discover that they all encourage love of learning even though different paths are suggested to achieve such a love. Do you need some help verbalizing your own home educational philosophy? My post, “What Is Your Home Education Philosophy?,” offers 10 questions to get you started.

The profound influence of Charlotte Mason, a dedicated educator of young women in Victorian England, continues to shape the lives of many contemporary home educators. During the mid to late 1800s, Miss Charlotte Mason served as headmistress to an “infant “ school, founded a teacher’s college for young women, and wrote numerous books and letters on her philosophy of education. Many parents find the reading of the six volume set entitled The Original Homeschooling Series to be a slow but extremely valuable endeavor. Her focus is often called “the gentle art of learning” and involves narration, copywork, nature notebooks, music and art appreciation, and the use of “living books.” In defining living books, Mason explains that entire works of good, classic literature and original source documents are preferable to textbooks which excise portions of whole books in order to shape agendas. Like John Holt, her philosophy of education centered around a love of learning: “nourish a child daily with loving, right, and noble ideas…which may bear fruit in his life.” Practical advice on cultivating such love is extensive in this six volume series.

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If you are interested in sharing ideas with other homeschool parents who embrace Charlotte Mason’s “gentle art of learning” philosophy, consider joining one of the following free Yahoo Discussion Groups. The descriptions of each group come directly from Yahoo.

Cmason (1877 members)

“This list is for persons who are using or are interested in using the Charlotte Mason Philosophy for education (including homeschooling), or to enrich their own lives. We will research and discuss the original Home Education Series by Charlotte Mason but also other materials. While we use a lesson format for topical parent discussions, any CM question is welcome at any time and ‘newbies’ are encouraged to ask questions. For the Summer we will be using quotations directly from the Original Home Schooling Series (found online in our File section) for our weekly topical discussions.”

CM4earlyyears (972 members)

“To discuss the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling for children, ages birth through 6 years. Please realize that Charlotte Mason was NOT an advocate of “formal” schooling for these years, instead, she stressed the formation of habits, exploring, and playing.”

CMSeries (851 members)

“This is a focused list for those wishing to learn more about the Charlotte Mason method of education by reading her books and Parents Review articles, and engaging in discussions of a philosophical nature. We welcome anyone who would like to dig deeper with us into the writings of CM, and who enjoys lively discussions.”

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Continue learning about other home education philosophies by reading my posts on John Holt, Susan Wise Bauer/Jessie Wise, and Oliver DeMille who all agree that love of learning is a priority even though their methods differ. Are you still having thinking about your own family’s home education philosophy? Read 10 Questions: What Is Your Home Education Philosophy?

The landmark book How Children Learn was originally written by John Holt, a former 5th grade math teacher in an elite private school, during the early 1960’s before the modern homeschooling movement gained momentum. Since then, it has been embraced by one segment of the home education community as the quintessential reference on unschooling.

Primarily a journal based on Holt’s observations of children from birth to around age 10, How Children Learn proposes that children are born with an innate ability and desire to learn about the world around them, and given the freedom to explore the things that interest them, they will develop thinking skills.

Contrary to establishment educators, Holt argues that the traditional school model forces children to “learn” which results in a changed personality. Persistent testing and compulsory learning (often of subjects of no interest to the child) creates mistrust, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Instead of developing a love of learning, the traditionally schooled child loses his natural curiosity.

Unlike some of the other books in this series on home education philosophies, John Holt’s book does not outline detailed methods for a successful education; rather, he asks the parent to thoughtfully observe and respect the child —trusting that real learning will occur over time if the child is given space and freedom to explore.

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If you are interested in a free online support network with daily discussion,

you might want to consider joining the following Yahoo Groups:

Always Learning (1578 members)

“Discussion for homeschooling fans of John Holt, whose books Learning All the Time, Never Too Late, and Teach your Own have made unschooling a sweet and viable option for thousands of families. This is a moderated group, with trapdoors for the uncooperative. (Not moderated in the advance-approval way, but in the be-nice-to-play way.) It’s an idea group and is intended to lean more toward pure unschooling than neutral, general homeschooling discussion.”

Unschooling Basics (1866 members)

“A list designed for those new to the philosophy of unschooling. Ask experienced unschoolers all those niggling questions, and find out how unschooling works in real families. f you’re familiar with John Holt’s work, but unsure of how to begin or what an unschooling day really looks like, this is a place for you to discuss,question, ponder and become deeply familiar with natural learning and how it affects our entire lives. From parenting issues to learning from the whole wide world and beyond, come explore the issues that unschooling families have dealt with in the past and how to get beyond “school-think” to a joyful unschooling lifestyle!”

Christ Centered Unschooling (338 members)

“CCU stands for Christ Centered Unschooling. Unschooling is a style of home schooling based on the ideals of natural learning. John Holt, who is credited with coining the term “unschooling” espoused the idea that children, like all people, are born with an innate desire to learn. Learning is unavoidable and if given the encouragement and environment in which to flourish will happen without coercion or structure. Rigid structure, forced learning and contrived curriculum can be destructive to the desire to learn. Unschooling, practiced for several decades and by many families, has resulted in confident, productive and independent thinking adults. This list was formed as a place for Christians who are either unschooling, attempting to implement more unschooling into their lives or just interested in learning more about the ideas.”

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Are you interested in learning about other home education philosophies? Charlotte Mason, Susan Wise Bauer/Jessie Wise, and Oliver DeMille all agree that love of learning is a priority even though their methods differ. Read more by clicking on the names above.

A common sensation grips both novice and veteran home educators when they encounter the vendor hall at the annual convention: panic! Row after row of eager vendors touting the essential benefits of their products often unintentionally confuse, overwhelm, and frustrate. The sheer magnitude of choices can be stupefying. Textbooks, DVDs, maps, CDs, cassette tapes, workbooks, flashcards, VHS tapes, art supplies, lab equipment, and even bread-making supplies are all for sale! Even the most prepared parents sometimes find themselves purchasing materials that do not meet the needs of their children nor do these materials accomplish the objectives of their home education philosophy. Knowing your family’s philosophy of home education can give you clear vision while you confidently peruse the multiple resources in wonder and excitement.

Although the number of home education methods is considerably less than the number of resources available to implement these methods, there are several approaches from which to choose. Your family’s educational philosophy is simply how you think about education — that is, your system of motivating beliefs, concepts, and principles. In determining your philosophy, consider the following 10 questions:

1. What do we believe about education?
2. What do we believe about our children?
3. What do we believe about our role as parents?
4. How do each of our children learn?
5. What parental experience is necessary?
6. What knowledge will we seek?
7. What character traits are most desirable?
8. How much control over content and time will we exercise during each phase of the journey?
9. What overall goals do we hope to accomplish?
10. How will we execute our dreams?

Such weighty questions are not easily answered. Significant reflection, research, and discussion over time will eventually reveal your family’s unique vision for educating your children. A universally correct answer does not exist; each family must personalize the final goals and execute accordingly.

Over the next few posts, I’ll highlight five selected authors who propose four differing philosophies of education: John Holt, Charlotte Mason, Jessie Wise/Susan Wise Bauer, and Oliver Van DeMille. Each author is highly respected within the home education community. Proven observations and solutions that effectively challenge and shape students (and parents!) serve as testimony to the validity of these authors’ approaches. Some might avoid certain books labeled as liberal or conservative; however, exclusive reliance on labels can rob us of the gems revealed in each book. One common theme of each author is love of learning.

What is your home schooling philosophy?

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Read more:

John Holt and Unschooling

Charlotte Mason and the Gentle Art of Learning

Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise Systematize The Well-Trained Mind

Oliver Van DeMille and Leadership Education

The Well-Trained Mind (TWTM), by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, was THE very first book that captured my attention when we began to consider giving our kids an education at home. I was smitten with the concept of classical home schooling right away! I loved the vision and conversational style that Jessie and Susan offered, but 8 years after trying to fully implement their suggestions, I am convinced that the “trivium” as they teach it is impossible to achieve.

Overly ambitious, TWTM feels a lot like traditional school with harder subjects. Twelve years of math…twelve years of science…twelve years of grammar…argh! Add the “classical” subjects that I never had as a student (logic, latin, and rhetoric), and all of a sudden, “classical” home schooling felt like a huge task. At first, I tried to do everything they recommended, but over the years, I began to eliminate as many of their ideas as I embraced because they didn’t work for our kids, or they were just too tedious. I spent way too much money in the first few years purchasing various curricula that enslaved us (Abeka Grammar, Canon Press Logic II), and I felt such a burden because I was trying to follow TWTM and always fell short! I have talked to so many moms who were excited about classical homeschooling only to give up in frustration. Today, I use The Well-Trained Mind as a resource and not as a blueprint; read more about their educational philosophy.

Perhaps you are one of those parents who was initially excited about the concept of classical education, but somewhere along the way you lost your drive. Maybe you felt discouraged or wondered how you would get it all done! If so, you’ll want to read this entire series. Through no fault of your own you have been operating under a false understanding of a classical Christian education which positioned you and your children for failure. Now please don’t think I am suggesting that the leaders of the renewal movement are intentionally conspiring to deceive; that is NOT what I am saying. I am merely suggesting that the current classical education renewal movement is operating under a faulty premise because the historical trivium was never meant to be taught the way we do it today. In the next post, I’ll give a little background on the current classical education renewal movement so we’re all on the same page.

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Tags: classical education renewal movement, Classical Home Schooling, Jessie Wise, latin, Logic, Rhetoric, Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-Trained Mind, trivium

Welcome to The Classical Scholar! I’m Diane Lockman, your moderator, and I have over 9 years of hands-on experience in raising classical Christian scholars. Now I’m experiencing the dreaded but delightful high school years! My best friend and husband, David, and I spent the first 12 years of our marriage living the high life as yuppies (I’m a CPA; he’s an engineer and patent attorney), but soon after turning 30, I began to yearn for children. Tragically, our first son, Davis, was born with a congenital birth defect that doomed his precious life during infancy, but the good news is that Davis’ death served as a “wake-up call” for us which eventually resulted in two more healthy babies, Meredith in 1992 and Connor in 1994, and an unforgettable encounter with the Risen Lord in October 1997 that changed my life forever!

During 1999, we seriously considered moving overseas so that David could teach in some sort of mission role. Enrolled in a global missions course, I had been reading about American expatriots who sent their kids away to boarding school, and I cried out to the Lord because I couldn’t bear to part with them after waiting so long for children. Little did I know that the Lord who knew my deepest longings was about to reveal a new call on my life: classical Christian homeschooling. Soon thereafter, I read The Well-Trained Mind by Jesse Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, and David and I took the plunge!

During the early years, I carried most of the academic load, but as the kids have gotten older, David has assumed more and more responsibility. He has always taught them Scripture around the kitchen table every morning, but now that they’re doing high school work, he is leading them in Debate, Algebra, and Biology. David is the one who first mentioned the idea of a website where I could minister to other parents who were either already trying a classical Christian home education or were thinking about it. I was seriously hesitant because of the time commitment, but soon the vision began to take shape, and The Classical Scholar was born. It is our greatest hope that every guest who visits this website will be profoundly blessed. We are praying that you will experience life-changing insights and receive encouragement for the difficult journey ahead as you raise your own classical scholars!