The Case for Classical Christian Education (Paperback)

~ (Author) "IN ONE SENSE, a good book on education ought to be timeless..." (more)
Key Phrases: grammar stage, government school system, wound lightly, Jesus Christ, Logos School, Horace Mann (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Newspapers are filled with stories about poorly educated children, ineffective teachers, and cash-strapped school districts. In this greatly expanded treatment of a topic he first dealt with in Rediscovering the Lost Tools of Learning, Douglas Wilson proposes an alternative to government-operated school by advocating a return to classical Christian education with its discipline, hard work, and learning geared to child development stages.

As an educator, Wilson is well-equipped to diagnose the cause of America's deteriorating school system and to propose remedies for those committed to their children's best interests in education. He maintains that education is essentially religious because it deals with the basic questions about life that require spiritual answers-reading and writing are simply the tools. Offering a review of classical education and the history of this movement, Wilson also reflects on his own involvement in the process of creating educational institutions that embrace that style of learning. He details elements needed in a useful curriculum, including a list of literary classics. Readers will see that classical education offers the best opportunity for academic achievement, character growth, and spiritual education, and that such quality cannot be duplicated in a religiously-neutral environment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (November 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581343841
• ISBN-13: 978-1581343847
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting the Vision, May 11, 2003

By	John Seel (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Doug Wilson is the father of the Protestant classical Christian school movement. This book is a mature statement of why classical Christian schools are needed and what they stand for. Many have been introduced to the movement through his book Rediscovering the Lost Tools of Learning (Crossway, 1991). This book is a far better starting point. One does not have to agree with Rev. Wilson on all points to appreciate the distinctive vision this book outlines. It is highly recommended and should be read by every teacher, parent, student, and board member associated with classical Christian schools. Once again, we owe Doug Wilson an enormous debt.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome contribution to the current national dialogue, July 15, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

In The Case For Classical Christian Education, Douglas Wilson articulately and persuasively denounces the state that American public schools have fallen into with endemic and rampant illiteracy and below-grade literacy; poor performance in math, science, history, and geography; and even the prevalence of crime and drugs among the student population. The only way to improve things is to restore classical Christian education, which provides religious answers to the basic and profound matters of life, as well as the more mundane answers to practical everyday problems. The Case for Classical Christian Education is strongly recommended reading and a welcome contribution to the current national dialogue over public education reform and the role of the church sponsored school.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm Convinced! (But A Separate Volume Would be Helpful), July 7, 2009

By	Adam T. Calvert (OH, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm convinced.

Douglas Wilson makes a powerful case for a classical, Christian approach to education. He lays out for the reader how and why the government educational system is broken, and then shows how and why it cannot be fixed. Building from that, he proposes that the best solution for this problem is a classical Christian education.

After giving a brief review of how his school got started, he explains what Classical Christian education is. Having everything point to Christ as the unifying principle of education, the classical model is used because of its natural link of the Trivium (Grammar, Dialectic, Rhetoric) to the stages of child development (Wanting to know what things are - Grammar, to Wanting to know why things are and how they fit together - Dialectic, to Wanting to know how to express one's self - Rhetoric).

His later chapters are more about how to start a classical Christian school. The only problem is that they seem out of place in a book set out to simply make 'The Case for Classical Christian Education'. They give some details on how to start a classical, Christian school, but not nearly enough details if one wants to actually start one. In my opinion, it would be best if these chapters were expanded on and put into a separate book.

While I certainly don't agree with everything Wilson says (mainly Covenant theology doctrine - like presupposing covenants made between the Godhead and God and Adam that are not recorded in Scripture, and making no distinction between Israel and the church, as I believe the Scriptures do), this book is certainly a must read for anyone who is curious about why the classical approach to education is the best.

I am further convinced of the classical approach to education, and just as convinced that any true education must be a Christian education. (For more on this, I highly recommend 'Foundations of Christian Education' by Berkhof and Van Til)