paideia
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Pedagogical Principle #2- Formation vs. Information
“To promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness”. These are the first few words of the United States’ Department of Education’s mission statement. At first glance, they sound pretty good. As parents, teachers, and citizens, we want our students to be high achievers, to be prepared for the future. But if you look more… Continue reading
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Pedagogical Principle #1 – A Givenness to the Universe
Few people today would argue against the existence of natural laws. Gravity, energy, and thermodynamics are generally accepted as realities that govern the world around us. We accept them as constant, as true, and as given. Yet, the idea of givenness ends there. The world often stops short of recognizing what those laws reveal: that… Continue reading
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Making your Portrait of a Graduate Practical and Effective
by Lindsey Ralls Many schools have a Portrait of a Graduate, (though sometimes it’s referred to as a “Profile of a Graduate” ): a document that outlines what the school hopes to cultivate in their students by the time they graduate. The challenge, of course, is that much like a strategic plan, a Portrait of… Continue reading
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In Ten Words Or Less
by Lindsey Ralls Chances are, at some point in the last week you told someone that your kids just started school and that it’s a classical school. And chances are, they probably asked you what that means. “ “Well… ” you began. And then it got kind of tricky. Is it about paideia? (You’re pretty sure you’ve… Continue reading
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Ratus and Viridis (Screwtape Letters meets Classical Education)
by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) (1) Viridis, Why is it when we start a new job, that we are tempted to view questions as a sign of weakness? We don’t want to ask too many questions because then maybe those that hired us will second-guess their decision. Nothing could be less true. Einstein was… Continue reading
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What We’re All About
Pai·deia (noun) – The upbringing of a child
Prac·ti·cal (adjective) – Concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with simply theory and ideas
Post of the Week!
Gazing…and Aristotle’s Five Common Topics
Practical Paideia 