For the final transcript posts from our most recent homeschooling chat, I will be providing a breakdown of the most common homeschool methods. None will be a completely exhaustive explanation, but they will provide some historical context and a basic framework of the main tenets for each method.
We are starting with the Classical method. When discussing any method, I am quick to remind everyone that I am simply explaining what they are. It is not necessarily a reflection of how we do things (in this case it’s almost nothing like our homeschooling; we don’t use this method). And it is not meant to necessarily serve as an endorsement either. I am only giving a brief overview to help parents who have no real idea what these methods are rooted in and what they entail. I believe it is important to understand the origin and what the unique purposes of an educational method are before taking a leap into using it. My hope is that these posts will serve as a springboard for all to do further research!
So what is Classical education?
Classical education is rooted in… well, the classics (ancient Roman and Greek art, literature, poetry, philosophy, political thought, etc). It began with Aristotle and Plato and is noted as being the education of our Founding Fathers. The focus of a Classical education is to create a well educated, independent thinker with excellent speaking and writing ability who can reason and make a sound argument.
Neoclassical has three stages:
Grammar (elementary): learning through memorization and practice.
Dialectic (middle): learning to reason through logic and questioning
Rhetoric (high school): learning to apply knowledge and logic in order to speak and write with authority
Liberal Arts Classical adds the teaching of Latin and a focus on what is “true and good and beautiful”.
Why Latin? Latin is the root of much modern language. Learning it can massively help your understanding of grammar, vocabulary, classic lit, etc. It is also still commonly used in many professions (medicine! law! science!).
The most common question received pertaining to the Classical method was, “How do you learn this material fast enough yourself to teach it?” To which every Classical method homeschooling parent replied, “We learn alongside them!”
If you wish to learn more about this method, I recommend “The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home” by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise.
Emmy Goulet 