What we today call a Classical Education began in ancient Greece and was later adopted by the Romans. It faltered after the fall of the Roman Empire but then experienced a rebirth during the Middle Ages. It was brought to “perfection” during the Italian Renaissance.
It was thereafter adopted in England, and passed to America during colonial times.
It is not an exaggeration to suggest that a Classical Education is the cornerstone of western civilization. (Learn more by visiting Susan Wise Bauer's website.)
The reason we can say this has to do with what a classical education is, and what it ultimately stands for. One prominent commentator points out that, at its essence, a Classical Education has four (4) core tenets that “define” it:
1) It is a system of education that values knowledge for its own sake;
2) It upholds the standards of correctness, logic, beauty, weightiness and truth, all intrinsic to the liberal arts;
3) It demands moral virtue of its adherents/followers; and
4) It prepares human beings to assume their place as responsible citizens in the political order.
It is certainly arguable that today’s progressive education system rejects each of the core tenets that are at the foundation of a Classical Education.
Humans are naturally curious, with an innate longing to learn about things and to know the good, the beautiful and the true.
Children especially embody these qualities and have untapped learning capabilities at their disposal that they instinctively want to develop.
But as with physical development, intellectual development needs to be guided.
And so unlike today’s “progressive” education system, a Classical Education does NOT leave children to their own mental urges or inclinations.
Rather it seeks to feed, direct and strengthen a child’s mental capabilities.
A Classical Education puts children’s mind to work, guiding them to develop their learning capabilities, and leading them to understand themselves and the world around them.
A Classical Education teaches students high standards of grammar, precision in word choice, and an eloquence based in a love for language. Language of course is the very thing that distinguishes humans - it is the very source of the human intellect.
What today’s modern education system regards as acceptable literacy is, frankly, a disgrace.
The idea that education should be first and foremost a moral enterprise has fallen into disfavor in today’s education system, which either ignores or actively debases this notion.
But students who receive a Classical Education are confronted with the great lessons that are found in an honest telling of history and in western civilization’s greatest literature.
And whereas a progressive education might present things from a perspective of moral equivalence, a Classical Education presents stories with real heroes and heroines, stories in which actions have consequences and where there is a clearcut difference between right and wrong, between good and evil.
A Classical Education is concerned with how humans fit into society, specifically into their community. And because it has a moral foundation, it teaches not only about how actions have consequences, but also about how with each freedom comes a corresponding responsibility.
A Classical Education seeks to foster independent thinkers, people not only who have a sense of community but also who think for themselves.
Political wisdom does not come easy. But people who can think for themselves are far less likely to be duped or otherwise become pawns to the politically ambitious.
A Classical Education provides the cultural, moral and civic foundations that guide young people toward productive and happy lives. It feeds an innate love of learning that animates young people especially, at the same time inspiring them with timeless life lessons.
As such it stands in stark contrast to the types of conformist, one-size-fits-all, top-down education systems that predominate in our nation today.
Learn more at:
Read "The Lost Tools of Learning," an Essay by Dorothy Sayers
"This is such a special place!! It is life changing for these boys as it centers around strong relationships that encourage strong academic growth. It’s a hockey school, but so much more than that.
"It’s a pleasure to come to work everyday. Thank you for creating such a positive, caring environment."
Kristi Florey, Bridgedale Math Teacher
Attention 4th Graders
Bridgedale Academy is accepting a limited number of 4th graders for the 2023-24 school year, on a case-by-case basis. Please call me at 708-712-5079 to inquire.
Mike McPartlin, Headmaster
Bridgedale students LOVE going to school,
and so they THRIVE in it.
They LOVE coming to school every day.
And as a result, they are thriving.
They engage academically ...
... and so they come to love learning.
They also love that they get to work on the sport they have such passion for, while also training to become better athletes, all as part of their school day.
They train athletically ...
... and so they more fully develop their skills.
They LOVE getting so much better ... so much sooner.
They are physically fit and mentally alert ... they are thriving.
“Every shot you don't take won't go in.”
Wayne Gretzky
Bridgedale is now enrolling students for the 2023-24 School Year.