Whitefield Academy is a classical Christian School. Historically, classical has meant the implementation of the Trivium--Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric--to train the mind, and the Quadrivium--Math and Science--to train about matter, through imitation, repetition, and application. The Quadrivium is familiar to us as we have studied math, algebra, geometry, etc. and biology, chemistry, physics, etc. The Trivium, less familiar to us, serves as the methodology or pedagogy to train the mind in order to become life-long learners. This initial stage of education occurs in K-12 or approximately ages six to eighteen. Historically the language arts drive the curriculum of the Trivium. The specific content of the Trivium curriculum has changed over time. The Greeks, studied what we today call classical Greek (in contrast to koine or biblical Greek), the Romans studied Latin, and we Americans study English in the Grammar stage. The content changed with time but the method (memorization, imitation and repetition) and purpose (to be thoroughly filled with the building blocks of language—reading, spelling, grammar, composition) remained constant. Our school equips students with a thorough grasp of the basics of language.
In the Logic stage students are trained to think critically or to quote Isaac Watts students are trained in “the right use of Reason in the Inquiry after Truth.” The Athenians (450 – 400 BC) studied Homer and the early poets. Aristotle (350 BC) studied Homer, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Aristophanes and others. The Logic students of Rome added the studied of Plato and Aristotle; Augustine’s education included all of the above plus Virgil and Cicero; and so on. Each generation of students was educated by reading the greatest thinkers and writers of proceeding generations. The specific content might change with time but the methodology of reading and reasoning through the great thinkers (Great Books) of proceeding generations remained constant.
The Rhetoric stage exists to teach effective written and oral communication. Whitefield students are trained not only to discover truth through critical thinking but also then to apply that truth both to themselves and for the benefit of others. When the rich young man came to Jesus to ask what he must do to inherit eternal life Jesus spoke truth to that young man. However, Jesus spoke in a way that forced the young man to apply a truth he had previously only held intellectually. Jesus provides us with a rhetorically wondrous model. The propositional truth is that men must serve God and God only. The young man had already assented to this propositional truth and believed he was in obedience. But he was not. At this point Jesus did not repeat the propositional truth, which the young man knew, but instead told him a modified narrative. The young man himself became the main character who must go and sell all he possesses, give the money away, and then come back to follow Jesus. Jesus communicated to the rich young man a true story not simply a propositional truth. By engaging the imagination of the young man Jesus persuaded him of the truth and the young man could no longer intellectually assent but mistakenly believe he was in obedience to the truth. Confronted with the power of this truth the young man tragically rejects Jesus and leaves in sorrow. Jesus communicated effectively and rhetorically. Whitefield Academy seeks to train young Christian leaders to go and do likewise.
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