The thread on 7th grade languages got me thinking more about where Latin fits in our homeschool. I confess that, while I consider Latin to be very important to developing a child's ability to think deeply, I've never fully understood the "center of the curriculum" aspect. The history-centric approach seen in the mainstream classical movement has always resonated with me because 1) I was a history major and 2) it seems to order every other part of a child's studies (natural science while studying ancients, chemistry while studying early modern age, literature from/about the period being studied, etc; it's not always a perfect alignment but it makes general sense).
Until now.
As I thought about this more, I've come to realize a few things (and to realize that I need help sorting out a few more!):
1. The foundation of our curriculum is our Faith as that is where we meet Truth, Goodness and Beauty personified. This doesn't mean that everything we study is explicitly brought back to the Bible, or that we moralize our literature studies; but it means we know Who we seek and are able to see Him wherever He may be found whether that is in the natural order, the Scriptures, an historical event, the liturgy or a great piece of literature.
2. The second level of our curriculum is Grammar. The purpose of education is to fully become the human beings we have been created to be; but in order to do this, we must be able to understand what we learn. In order to that, we must understand language. In the early years, this means we learn the building blocks of language itself (letters, sounds, blends). After we know how to speak and access our language in written form, we then need to understand how language actually works so we can fully understand, process and share the knowledge presented to us. This would be where Latin comes in. Through it we learn the order of language and our minds are trained to process what is before us in an orderly manner. It also prepares us to receive knowledge, from its original sources, in a variety of areas -- including the histories of the classical era, the philosophy of the middle ages, and the mathematics and science works of the early modern age.
3. This third level is where I need further guidance. My initial instinct is to place history here (all of history, not a divided religious/secular history) since the narrative of the past helps us understand who we are, where we come from, and what we are being called to. It is where we see man in both his glory and his misery. It is where we see the human condition played out before us.
At the same time, I wonder whether mathematics should be placed in this third level instead since it shows us the order of the universe in which we live?
So, yes, I now fully believe in the centrality of Latin (Jessica, you can do a happy dance now!), but how would you prioritize the rest of the curriculum based on the purpose of education stated above? I don't mean the order of knowledge (i.e., we study these things now so we can study those things later), but rather, within the curriculum our children study from year to year, how would you prioritize their areas of study after Faith and Latin?
Until now.
As I thought about this more, I've come to realize a few things (and to realize that I need help sorting out a few more!):
1. The foundation of our curriculum is our Faith as that is where we meet Truth, Goodness and Beauty personified. This doesn't mean that everything we study is explicitly brought back to the Bible, or that we moralize our literature studies; but it means we know Who we seek and are able to see Him wherever He may be found whether that is in the natural order, the Scriptures, an historical event, the liturgy or a great piece of literature.
2. The second level of our curriculum is Grammar. The purpose of education is to fully become the human beings we have been created to be; but in order to do this, we must be able to understand what we learn. In order to that, we must understand language. In the early years, this means we learn the building blocks of language itself (letters, sounds, blends). After we know how to speak and access our language in written form, we then need to understand how language actually works so we can fully understand, process and share the knowledge presented to us. This would be where Latin comes in. Through it we learn the order of language and our minds are trained to process what is before us in an orderly manner. It also prepares us to receive knowledge, from its original sources, in a variety of areas -- including the histories of the classical era, the philosophy of the middle ages, and the mathematics and science works of the early modern age.
3. This third level is where I need further guidance. My initial instinct is to place history here (all of history, not a divided religious/secular history) since the narrative of the past helps us understand who we are, where we come from, and what we are being called to. It is where we see man in both his glory and his misery. It is where we see the human condition played out before us.
At the same time, I wonder whether mathematics should be placed in this third level instead since it shows us the order of the universe in which we live?
So, yes, I now fully believe in the centrality of Latin (Jessica, you can do a happy dance now!), but how would you prioritize the rest of the curriculum based on the purpose of education stated above? I don't mean the order of knowledge (i.e., we study these things now so we can study those things later), but rather, within the curriculum our children study from year to year, how would you prioritize their areas of study after Faith and Latin?
Martin uses these three questions to encourage overwhelmed homeschool parents, of which I am frequently one. He tells the story about coming home to his wife who was homeschooling four kids at the time. Occasionally she would express concern about what they'd accomplished that day. (I'm butchering the story--Martin, forgive me!) He would ask her these three questions to cheer her up. These questions are "first things" but certainly not the "only things." Latin and Math (and literature) are only part of what we do every day with MP. But, they are the most significant academic things we do. Sorry if my explanation was misleading above. We are a core curriculum family, so we just open the planners and do whatever is there each and every day to the best of our ability. When things must be trimmed (as they must occasionally be), we don't trim these away. Academic formation non-negotiables is probably a better way to describe them.
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