Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz AM, FASSA
Whenever I mention classical education, I am often told that such an education is “Catholic,” a way of attracting parents and their children to Catholic schools.
I respond by explaining that the roots of classical education are in the educational systems of Ancient Greece and Rome having developed long before Christianity existed. The classical method has been refined over the centuries, adapting to cultural and societal changes but maintaining its core principles. I talk about the Trivium (Latin for “three ways”) and describe the three stages of Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric.
If I am really in an expansive mood, I explain how dialectic works to help students learn to think critically, question, argue, and integrate their knowledge across different subjects. Emphasis is placed on how to think, not what to think. And if time permits, I even talk about rhetoric and how students learn to articulate their thoughts and ideas persuasively and eloquently.
Of course, it is true that many Christian schools, including a significant number of Catholic schools, have adopted the classical education model. The connection between classical education and Catholicism can be attributed to several factors:
- The Value of Tradition: Classical education aligns with the Catholic tradition's respect for historical continuity, wisdom, and understanding. The study of classic texts, including those from ancient philosophers, aligns well with this appreciation for tradition and wisdom from the past.
- Holistic Approach to Education: The classical model's emphasis on developing the whole person — intellectually, morally, and spiritually — mirrors Catholic education's emphasis on holistic development.
- Integration of Faith and Reason: The classical education model's emphasis on logic and critical thinking can dovetail with Catholicism's longstanding tradition of integrating faith and reason. Thinkers like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas integrated Christian faith with the philosophy and reasoning of classical thinkers.
- Great Books Curriculum: Many classical education programs use a "Great Books" curriculum that includes many works that have shaped Western civilization, including Christian, and specifically Catholic, texts and thinkers.
Still, it's important to note that secular and Protestant schools also use the classical education model, and classical homeschooling is gaining popularity among a range of families. So, while there is an association between Catholicism and classical education, it's not an exclusive relationship. What is important to anyone considering Classical education is its ability to foster a lifelong love of learning.
By focusing on the tools of learning (grammar, logic, and rhetoric), Classically educated students are equipped to become lifelong learners who can self-educate and adapt to the ever-changing world.
No matter what one’s beliefs and perspectives, Classical education offers a comprehensive, rigorous, and enriching approach that aims to develop well-rounded, knowledgeable, and thoughtful individuals.
