You want your child to receive the best education possible, but not all curriculums out there are teaching our children the same things. Though most schools today follow the progressive style curriculum with its focus on professional skills, there are plenty of other styles that may be better suited to the way your child learns and the goals they want to achieve.
A classical curriculum provides an enduring, high-quality education that teaches students to ask why, to think critically, and to develop concrete arguments to spark discussion with their peers and analyze the world around them. Through open discussion and a focus on the humanities, a classical education teaches students to read, think, and learn beyond their academic environment.
Here are five ways a classical education can benefit your child:
Teaching Styles Spark Critical Thinking And In-Depth Analysis
One of the foundations of classical education is a commitment to Socratic discussion in the classroom. These are open-ended, thought-provoking questions that help students gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and apply the lessons in their own lives. Students think critically and look for deeper meaning in their studies.
The Stages Of The Curriculum Complement How Students Learn Best For Their Age
The classical curriculum puts a focus on teaching verbal and written arts throughout the child’s academic career through the Trivium, broken down into Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. Each of these three stages complements the ways students learn at each age.
Younger students are focused on memorizing information about their subjects, and as they move on to higher grade levels they learn to ask questions, analyze, form opinions, and ultimately be able to articulate and discuss those opinions to their peers.
Classical Education Challenges Students, For The Better
Many see the classical curriculum as too difficult for their children, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are challenges to every curriculum as students first learn how to learn. As they progress through classical studies, they are challenged to learn how to question, analyze, interpret, and communicate. With its focus on wisdom and virtue, this curriculum develops the skills that your child needs to succeed not just professionally, but in every aspect of life.
Students Learn How To Debate And Communicate Ideas To Their Peers
Because the classical curriculum focuses on Socratic discussion, students learn from an early age to develop their own opinions and communicate them in a focused, understanding way. Students also learn how to respect and respond to differing viewpoints, and find a sense of confidence in sharing their voice.
It’s Designed To Prepare Students For Life Beyond Graduation
In the last century, many schools have shifted to the progressive curriculum that puts focus on professional skills to help prepare students for the job market. But education is about more than finding a job, it’s about analyzing and interpreting the world around us. The classical method focuses on developing prevailing skills in its students that will benefit them not just in their jobs, but in every aspect of their lives. Wisdom, virtue, understanding, and curiosity are pillars of classical education.
You can find an expertly crafted classically-inspired education at the South Carolina Preparatory Academy. SC Prep is an online, tuition-free charter school that empowers students to take control of their education and ultimately their futures, and we’ve developed a classically-inspired curriculum to ensure student success at the highest level. Reach out today to get enrolled.
