Classical Curriculum
Classical education is a term to describe the time-tested curricula, materials and methods that have been traditionally used to educate our youth, build our nation, and establish Western civilization. A classical education emphasizes a content-rich and well-balanced course of study, human virtue and moral character, and responsible citizenship through teacher-lead classrooms. Garden State Classical Academy’s curriculum focuses on the four disciplines of math, science, literature, and history with daily attention to art, music, physical education, and foreign language. We are intentional on getting back to the fundamentals of teaching and learning as they were meant to be.
Classical Education is also an educational philosophy that guides students through cognitive developmental stages, by studying the works that have stood the test of time, and incorporating a highly language-intensive format. Classical education is effective largely due to its approach and how students are taught. Students learn in three stages or phases (grammar, logic, and rhetoric), known as the trivium. Each subject is approached in this distinctive and thorough way.
Classical education cultivates students to become rational and independent thinkers, so they can see the world clearly, by revealing our true nature and what is right and good.
The three Stages
Grammar Stage
(Kindergarten-5th)
During this developmental stage the goal is to build a foundation for future learning, by establishing a knowledge base. Younger children thrive academically with this format because they are naturally prone to memorizing content through songs, chants, and rhymes.
Logic Stage
(6th-8th)
This stage builds upon the grammar stage and teaches students how to organize and evaluate existing logical arguments. Middle school students developmentally begin to question authority and facts; they are very interested in the “why” of something. Classical education capitalizes on this stage by teaching reasoning, informal and formal logic, and how to argue with eloquence and wisdom.
Rhetoric Stage
(9th-12th)
In this stage, students learn how to effectively express their thoughts by using the knowledge gained during the grammar stage, as well as the tools developed during the logic stage. The art of rhetoric is the craft of persuasive speaking and effective writing which results in students properly connect to their audience. Rhetoric students learn how to generate their own arguments—both written and oral. By challenging properly skilled students to explore their ideas, a classical education instills in them a desire to seek truth in all circumstances.
