What is classical education?

[temporaryreality]

 The following is from the preface of The Well-Trained Mind (2nd ed), by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise (W. W. Norton, 2004).

 

What is classical education?
It is language-intensive--not image focused. It demands that students use and understand words, not video images.
It is history-intensive, providing students with a comprehensive view of human endeavor* from the beginning until now.
It trains the mind to analyze and draw conclusions.
It demands self-discipline.
It produces, literate, curious, intelligent students who have a wide range of interests and the ability to follow up on them.
(p. xx) 

 

With that in mind, I'll be drawing up a loosely-conceived curriculum for myself based on the suggestions found in this book.

* I intend to modify this to include readings on geological, biological, and ecological processes. Considered as topics under the purview of history, this simply means I'll be adding the geological ages and the evolutionary trajectory of life to the scope of my self-study project.

Comments

[methylethyl]

Maybe in another year... I'd love to get back to that project, along with a laundry-list of other things. The toddler throws a big wrench into any plan that requires sustained reading time-- it now takes me months to read a book I would once have finished in three days. I know this state is temporary. But it feels like forever. He's cute, though :)

[temporaryreality]

Oh my gosh a toddler - yeah that requires a completely different state of being. You have my sympathies :D