Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education Book

This is an excellent primer for understanding the reasons for Classical Christian education. He argues that parents have the obligation to instruct their children in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord. This requires that all education be Christian in nature. He then argues that the best--most proven method of education is the classical model--following the trivium.

Doug Wilson contends that "All the instruction received by the children should be permeated with God's Word." He adds, "...we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our minds...If our children do not think like Christians when they study history, math, or science, then they are not obeying the command to love God with all their minds. And if they are not obeying the command, parents should ask themselves why they are not."

Wilson argues, "The Biblical educator must not only have a Christian understanding of the material, he must have a Biblical understanding of the student. If he does not, then the result will be a hybrid Christian methodology employed to achieve a humanistic goal." Education is not simply something we do to get jobs, or even to be smarter. Education is meant to glorify God.

The Trivium is the preferred method for educating our children as it best suits the maturity of the student in the three distinct phases of maturity. The grammar stage of the trivium maximizes the young student's ability and desire to memorize information. The dialectic or logic stage harnesses the junior-high age student's inclination for argument and questioning. The rhetoric stage helps older students to express themselves when students seek avenues for self-expression.

But classical education is also 'classical' because it studies the classics of Western civilization. Classical education cherishes the heritage of Western culture. It is a discerning appreciation--embracing the best, but still seeking to an understanding and familiarity with the rest.

This is an outstanding introduction to the topic of Classical Christian education and is highly recommended.