What is Classical Christian Education?
At the center of the SFS curriculum is our Creator God and His Holy Word. The Christ-centered goal will be to guide students to a personal knowledge of the triune God and His truth as it is revealed in Scripture, in the world around us, and through each subject that is taught. Students will learn that all knowledge can be traced back to the one true God and that only as we recognize His sovereignty over all things can we gain true wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 1:7).
The God of the universe is a God of order and beauty. Children, being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), learn best in an atmosphere of order and beauty. SFS will strive to create an atmosphere that will help each student rise to his or her God-given potential by providing an environment that is conducive to learning.
Students will be encouraged to develop a love of learning and an ability to think that will bring them true satisfaction and serve them well for the rest of their lives. This will be achieved through implementation of a classical curriculum with the following distinctives:
The Basics. Reading, writing, and mathematics.
History. It is impossible to serve effectively in our own time unless we know where our time fits in the full scope of human history. We are all part of the human family, and history is our family’s story. Furthermore, as Christians we are part of the family of God which has its own particular history. Ultimately history is God’s story, for He is sovereign over all.
Language. Not only do we speak with language, we think with language. The structure of language is the structure of our thinking. We teach Latin as a tool in learning the fundamentals of language and as a foundation for English vocabulary. It is, of course, also the language in which much of Western Civilization’s greatest literature has been written.
Logic. Those who cannot think clearly are left to the whims of emotion and charismatic persuasion. It should be no surprise that the rise of the era of sound bites corresponds with the abandonment of the teaching of critical thinking. We teach formal and informal logic both as a defense against error and a tool in the pursuit of truth.
Excellence. We encourage every student to do his or her very best. More capable students may achieve more, but all students will be challenged to maximize their God-given abilities and honored for doing so.
Character. Education is about training the whole person for life in God’s world, and that includes character. Integrity, industry, courage, fortitude, honesty, loyalty, respect, compassion, goodness and humility are among the virtues we attempt to cultivate. These and many others are included in what the Christian calls “Christlikeness.”
Our Curriculum Overview and Scope and Sequence. Please read our curriculum overview and scope and sequence document for more information.