The Educational Philosophy of Coram Deo

Christian

First and foremost, Coram Deo utilizes a self-consciously Christian curriculum. We confess the lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life. The implications of this on education are all-encompassing. Every subject, whether it’s history, literature, science, and yes, even math, is subject to the authority of Christ Jesus. We affirm Abraham Kuyper’s sentiment that “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” Because this is the most basic and fundamental fact of life, our approach to education is much more integrated than it is disparate. We treat each subject as part of a whole domain of existence, rather than its own isolated entity. We acknowledge the interrelatedness among the different subjects of study; they all impact one another. This is no accident. God’s world is orderly, not chaotic and random. Students of Coram Deo will learn to view the world in a holistic and integrated fashion. This pedagogical approach differs from public schools at a fundamental level. Rather than assuming a secular-naturalistic worldview, Coram Deo operates on a biblical worldview. We presuppose the authority of God’s word, the Bible, in every matter.

Collaborative

In accordance with our adherence to a biblical worldview, we recognize the various spheres of governance and authorities as established by God, and their respective responsibilities. God has established the institution of the family and parental authority over children, and thus, has appointed parents with the task of education. Coram Deo opted for a hybrid model of class time (split week between in-class and at-home) in order to honor parents and make space for time with their children to teach. We believe that the greatest expert of a child is his or her parent, and thus, parents are best equipped to effectively teach their children. Coram Deo exists as a resource to assist parents in the education of their children. We are a resource primarily for families.

Is this a Classical Co-Op?

Yes, this Co-Op is a fruit of the resurgence of the Classical Christian Education movement. However, like the label of “Charlotte Mason” we have found that there are often different ideas and misconceptions of what makes a Christian “Classical Education.” We do not believe that simple chants to memorize facts ought to make up the majority of a young child’s education. Neither do we mean the Classical Education of previous centuries which aimed to produce students fluent in French, Greek, and Latin and to read Greek and Roman texts in the original languages. These are not our goals. As we are using the label “Classical Christian Education” we mean an education shaped around the transcendentals: what is true, good, and beautiful with an end goal to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. A Classical Christian Education is centered in the literature and history of Western culture as these are our forefathers and God has been immensely gracious to them. One of the premises of a Classical Christian Education is that God has been gracious to those of the past, and we want to preserve and pass on wisdom and knowledge to the next generation. Thus we have an emphasis on learning history and reading the good and great books of Western culture in literature. Filling the elementary years with classic children’s books prepares them to later work through the Great Books and become acquainted with and join the conversation of Western civilization. In the mid-elementary grades we will begin the study of Latin. We see a tremendous benefit to learning the Latin language. Not only do about 80% of english words come from Latin, but Latin is also a great tool for honing logic skills. In math we look to a solid, traditional teaching of math with an emphasis on understanding the truth of math concepts as well as obtaining a firm grasp on basic math facts in the elementary years to prepare students for higher math in the junior high and high school years. In the sciences, we emphasize hands on experiences with Creation, the ability to make observations and ask good questions, and exposure to interesting books on various topics, and labeling and sorting the world, to be a good foundation for further studies in the upper grades. This emphasis creates a solid foundation for later when the students’ math is at a level that they can learn physics, chemistry, and other sciences. Using the Trivium of Classical Education as a framework (the stages of Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric), we look to give the children a solid foundation of the building blocks of each subject in the elementary years. (The “grammar” of each subject) Later during middle school they will learn the subject of logic as well as explore relationships and reasons between ideas (the “dialectic” of the subject), Later in the high school years students will develop the ability to organize and beautifully present truth in a persuasive way. (The “rhetoric” of the subject). In The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Classical Christian Education, Kevin Clark and Ravi Scott Jain describe the goal of a Classical Education as growing in Wonder, Wisdom, Work, and Worship. This is a beautiful summary of our vision for the education we would like to provide for the children at Coram Deo.

Is this a Charlotte Mason Co-Op?

As we look at the children in the co-op, we see them as Charlotte Mason did, as born persons each created uniquely in the Image of God. We use and provide recommended book lists full of living books with living ideas to spread a feast before each child. We strive to develop the habit of regular time outdoors, equipping the children with the tools to observe the world around them. We want to develop the skills to quietly observe until they learn for themselves something about the nature of the trees and birds and waters around them. We have short lessons in the early years to allow children to learn the habit of giving their full attention to the material being presented. We provide and recommend resources to fill their imaginations with good, true, and beautiful scenes, pictures, and stories. Mason said, "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life," and we recognize the significance of the holistic environment of the children to their education and discipleship.

How is Classical education similar to Charlotte Mason?

There is a significant amount of overlap between classical Christian education and the type of education propounded by Charlotte Mason. Both educational philosophies focus on “living books;” that is, enduring literature written by passionate and skillful authors. Both educational philosophies address the whole person, tying the various aspects of life (intellectual, moral, tactical) together in a holistic fashion. It would not be out of place for a Charlotte Mason student and a classical Christian school student to run into each other on a nature walk. The primary difference between the two is that classical education is intentional about adhering to the trivium, while Charlotte Mason rejects the trivium as too constricting, and opts for a more free-form mode of education. The early years of education through elementary school are composed in large part by a Charlotte Mason approach which gradually transitions to a more Classical Christian approach in the middle school and high school years.