FACTS Parent Login
by Angie McNichols, Assistant Dean of Students
Culture is defined in Merriam Webster's dictionary as the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time. There is also another definition that applies; the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. The first definition is speaking to the extrinsic manifestations of the later definition.
In CCE (classical Christian education) there is a proven belief that by educating students to recognize and embrace Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, it will point them to a Christian worldview. From that perspective, the students will endeavor to be world changers and critical thinkers.
Students saturated in what is authentic Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are inoculated from the world's whims of what is the current definition of those terms. The world definition is forever changing, while CCE embraces eternal truths and knowledge based on God's unchanging word and standard. CCE's goal is to teach not only the mind, but to teach the heart- the whole child. The question arises, what does the external culture look like in CCE?
God is a God of order, so a CCE school is an orderly environment where gravitas is evident. Dignity, joyfulness, respect, and deep thinking is encouraged and fostered in students. Not only in the upper grades, but this is modeled and introduced in the lower grades. There is a respectful teacher/mentor relationship with students that nurtures a joyful, mannerly, mature, and confident student. Skills are not the only goal of the child's education, but knowledge and wisdom is passed from teacher to student through diligence in the classroom and by rich meaningful conversations. Teaching and nurturing the whole child.
In the recently released book, Battle for the American Mind, by Doug Wilson and Pete Hegseth, the writers discuss the aroma of CCE. This speaks to the culture found evident in our school. The aroma is, "daily class routines that include great art, great music, excellent poetry, and other beautiful elements that help develop students' habits, and thus their love of higher greater things" (Hegseth & Wilson, 2022, p.214). What a mighty but worthy endeavor for future generations.
References:
Hegseth, P., & Goodwin, D. (2022). Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation. Broadside Books.
"daily class routines that include great art, great music, excellent poetry, and other beautiful elements that help develop students' habits, and thus their love of higher greater things"
