Covenant Classical School

Thoroughly classical

Classical education seeks the cultivation of virtue in students. It places a high value not just on information, but also on formation. Classical education looks at the whole person—both body and soul. It aims to liberate students so that they would become lifelong learners and leaders, putting to use the wisdom and knowledge they have acquired. And though human beings are fallen by nature, in Christ they can be redeemed from their sin and transformed to grow in virtue as they find out what it means to be happy and human.

For education to be genuinely classical, the content of learning must take into consideration the history of Western thought—the high points and low points of what is considered the “great conversation”. It focuses on the great works of history, and it also requires you to become familiar with the greatest book, the Bible. Classical education does not encourage an inordinate infatuation with the past nor does it endorse or agree with all the great minds of history, but to be a classicist requires you to listen to the past and to learn from it. There must be a familiarity with where you came from and where you are going. For this reason, history serves as the organizing backbone for all other subjects. Not only that, but Christ Jesus is the focal point of world history. He is the turning point of the times. Biblically speaking, history unfolds in the great acts of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. As you study history, you recognize that your story finds its place in the larger story that God has written.

For more information regarding the classical tradition and our influences, check out the recommended books below:

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, by Douglas Wilson
The Seven Laws of Teaching, by John Milton Gregory
The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Classical Education, Clark and Jain
Norms & Nobility: A Treatise on Education, David V. Hicks
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education, Leah Bortins
Repairing the Ruins, Douglas Wilson
Leisure: The Basis of Culture, Josef Pieper
For the Children’s Sake, Susan Shaeffer Macaulay
Classical Me, Classical Thee: Squander Not Thine Education, Rebekah Merkle
The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis

Distinctly christian

For education to be distinctly Christian it must first begin with God’s revelation. God’s Word is the sun at the center of all other curriculum; it shines its light on all other subjects.

Special revelation from God’s Word guides and governs our understanding of general revelation in God’s world. And experiencing the truth, goodness, and beauty of God’s world helps to expand and enrich our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.

There is no such thing as education that is neutral.

We unapologetically teach from a Christian worldview. We believe that the eternal Word (i.e., the Logos), Jesus, is the place where all wisdom and knowledge find their end. And we teach that all subjects are connected as “an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center.” The Scriptures govern and orient all our learning and have ultimate authority in our lives.

All truth is God's truth.

Augustine once said, “...wherever truth may be found, it belongs to his Master.” Our conviction is that the Bible was not meant to be read as a scientific or mathematical text, but rather that it should provide the authoritative framework for interpreting all truth. We are committed to seeing truth, goodness, and beauty wherever they may be found because the triune God is their source.

Parents are primarily responsible for discipling their children.

We believe parents should be involved in their children’s education and development. Schools exist to partner with and support the role that God has given to parents. Our school’s collaborative model affords parents the joys of learning alongside their children without the administrative burdens of choosing curriculum and planning lessons.

The faith and character of teachers matters.

We are committed to hiring only teachers who are professing, practicing Christians and who are members of a local church that adheres to a statement of faith that is included in our Book of Confessions (see Statement of Faith tab for more information). Because information and formation are so closely related, we desire our staff not only to be exceptional teachers but also great role models (Luke 6:40). This is consistent with our conviction that education is primarily about directing our loves and our worship. There must be congruency between a teacher’s profession of faith and their life. This consistency will help legitimize that which is taught to the students (cf. Acts 20:18-20).

Education can't save us.

We do not believe that education can save or perfect students—this was the error made by the educational reformers following in the footsteps of John Dewey. We do not believe that the fundamental problem with children is a lack of information; we believe their fundamental problem is sin. So good advice cannot save them; they need good news. The Gospel is the good news that Christ died for our sins, that he rose again from the dead on the third day, and that anyone who repents and believes in him will have eternal life in his name. We believe that faithful Christian education seeks to plant and water Gospel seeds while trusting in God to cause the growth.

Classical & christian education