When you hear the word liberal, what do you think of? I bet if you are like me, you immediately identify this word with a political leaning. But today, I want to reclaim the word for its original meaning and share with you what liberal looks like at The River Academy.
According to the original Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, liberal meant:
Of a free heart
Generous
Not selfish
Free
Here at The River Academy, we often refer to our program as a Liberal Arts program, and we can learn a lot about what that means from these original definitions. For centuries, a Liberal Arts education was the “education of the free” (not monetary freedom, but rather an education aimed at producing a free mind). How does a Liberal Arts (or classical) education create freedom of thought? A classical (AKA liberal) education equips students with free minds because they have sufficient tools and training to be independent thinkers and learners. How do we do that here?
We utilize a time-tested model that leverages the Trivium (the first three out of seven liberal arts) to equip our students. The Trivium has three educational stages: Grammar, Dialectic (Logic), and Rhetoric, which shepherd a student through a course of learning. These stages correlate systematically with our students’ natural development while also building a complete set of skills and tools at each growth stage. But what does this look like in real life at TRA?
Grammar (K-6):
At the Grammar stage of learning at TRA, students develop a fundamental mastery of all basic subjects. Specifically, reading, writing, grammar (English and Latin), and math. With proficiency in these subjects, students can take on new and more complex topics because they have this solid foundation. Students do a lot of memorizing (because they love it), reciting, and exploring at this stage. They also engage in a lot of repetition to ensure a solid foundation in the basics. And just to add some fun, they receive an exciting overview of the entire Bible, all of World History, and an introduction to the wide world of science: all of this in just six hours a day.
But that is just the beginning...
Dialectic (7-9):
Next, our students embark on the Dialectic journey of our curriculum. At this stage, students begin to develop more critical thinking skills. The Dialectic phase starts with a formal class in logic, and is reinforced in all the other subjects through discussions, debates, research projects and readings - all aimed at helping students develop independent and critical thinking skills. It just so happens that this stage also corresponds with the students’ natural bent to start arguing (speaking as one who has two students in this stage in my household). Dinners are “fun” in this context as there is always something that merits a debate.
Finally, students move into the last and most crucial stage: Rhetoric.
Rhetoric (10-12):
The goal of the Rhetoric stage at TRA is students who start bearing the fruit of wisdom and eloquence (read skillful communication). Here, students do an extensive amount of writing and reading, which helps build a full mind and wise heart. Finally, they do a ton of public speaking. The culmination of this is when our seniors complete their final Thesis presentations. Students research, write and then present (20 minutes) on a relevant topic. I can’t think of a more critical skill in this day and age, when thoughtful, intelligent, and winsome communication has been thrown aside for pithy statements in 40 characters or less. We need thinking humans who can articulate themselves with grace, truth, and poise.
Students educated with the Trivium become equipped with the tools (arts) of learning and can think for themselves.
Praise God for the rebirth of Classical (Liberal) Christian education in our country and specifically in our Valley here at TRA.
Have a great week,
Eric
