The Classical Christian Education Tradition
Through the study of the greatest that has been thought and said by Western writers and thinkers, we pass our cultural heritage on to our children. Western civilization is made up of three elements: the Greeks, the Romans, and the Hebrews—and the coalescing of these three cultures into what later became known as Christendom, the Christian civilization that remained the dominant cultural force in the West until the early 20th century. A familiarity with the Greeks, the Romans, and, most importantly, the Christian Bible is essential to understanding our culture. The liberal arts are the “how” of education, and the study of Western culture is the “what”. A mastery of both of these is the best way to prepare a child, not only for college, but for life.
The liberal arts are the generalizable linguistic and mathematical skills that enable a person to excel in every academic area—as well as in the practical activities of life. In classical and medieval times, there were thought to be seven of these arts or skills: grammar, logic, and rhetoric (the “trivium”), as well as arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the “quadrivium”). The first three were linguistic arts, and the last four were mathematical. The liberal arts remain the greatest summary of the skills a person should be expected to know in order to be accounted an educated person.
The intensive study of Latin in the grammar school years develops the minds of students as no other subject can. Students who have learned how to learn with Latin become better students in all other subjects. The study of classical languages and the Greek/Roman classics provides a path to wisdom and knowledge that cannot be attained by any other method. In the tradition of western civilization, education and classical education have always been synonymous.
Classical education can be distinguished from modern education, in that it does not neglect the important first step of giving students the classical tools for both intellectual development and for understanding their classical Christian heritage. The curriculum at the center of Gulf Pointe Latin School is the Memoria Press Classical Core Curriculum.
Classical Education Resources
Whether you are new to GPLS or have been with us for many years, we want to encourage our entire parent community to continue to grow in their love and knowledge of classical education.
We believe that education is most effective when schools and families work together. One of the best ways parents can contribute to their child’s success is by becoming informed and passionate about classical education and Gulf Pointe Latin School.
We have created a short list of resources that we encourage you to dive into to become more informed about classical education. Your involvement truly makes a difference. When parents are informed and engaged, students are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
The Smartphone Disaster
It’s no secret that addictive digital technologies like smartphones and social media are harming a generation of kids socially, mentally, and even physically. But a workable solution seems elusive. After all, don’t kids need phones, and won’t they be vulnerable or socially isolated without tech?
Clare Morell, fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and director of its Technology and Human Flourishing Project, argues that the answer is no. She exposes the lies parents have been sold about managing the dangers of tech through parental controls and screen-time limits, and demonstrates that another way is possible—even if your children are already using smartphones or social media.
The Tech Exit maps a doable pathway to freedom from digital technology for families, local communities, and society. Drawing on dozens of interviews with experts and with families who have gone tech-free, as well as Morell’s own work as a policy expert, The Tech Exit shows how digital technology is anything but necessary for children to live happy, healthy, and socially full lives.
The Tech Exit is essential reading for any parent who has felt stuck between an awareness of the dangers of digital technology for kids and the feeling that tech is necessary and inevitable. Clare Morell’s message is simple and compelling: You and your family can be free. The life you want for your children is within reach.
IT TAKES A PARENT!
In this urgent conversation, "How Smartphones are Wrecking Your Life" Jonathan Haidt and Jordan Peterson dissect the silent catastrophe facing Gen Z - spiraling anxiety, attention collapse, and social isolation. They explore the psychological and spiritual fallout of algorithm-optimized platforms, the gendered impact on boys and girls, and what it means to raise children in a virtualized world.
PARENTAL WARNING: Peterson does not shy away from inappropriate language at times.