“Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education” by Douglas Wilson

This book, published in 1991, has become an incredibly influential book. In fact, an entire association of schools exists largely because of this book. In it, Douglas Wilson, a pastor in Moscow, ID, lays out his educational philosophy and a vision for Classical Christian schools. He relies heavily on examples from Logos School, which he founded in the early 1980′s to implement his educational philosophy.

The title of the book comes from a Dorothy Sayers essay entitled “The Lost Tools of Learning”, published in 1947. It is available for free online here. Sayers, disappointed in the direction that public education was heading in the 1940′s, wrote about the “classical” style of education, by which students had been taught for thousands of years. She compared this against the “modern” style of teaching in this way. In a nutshell, modern education focuses on teaching “subjects” (math, reading, science, etc) whereas classical education concentrates “on first forging and learning to handle the tools of learning.” Rather than simply learning facts and charts, classically-trained students learn how to learn. Once equipped with these tools, they are able to more quickly and thoroughly grasp the subjects taught by modern education.

Wilson’s philosophy takes this a step further, using the biblical mandate for parents to teach their children as a foundation, and building upon that foundation using the classical “Trivium”, a system of teaching consisting of three stages: Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric. The result is what he calls “Classical Christian Education”.

The book is divided into four sections. The first, called “The Failure of Modern Secular Education”, is an effective and devastating critique of public schools. Many of the statistics in this section are outdated (things are actually much worse twenty years after the book was written), but the concepts are the same. He also addresses many reforms suggested by both Christians and the secular establishment, and points out reasons why they won’t work.

The second section is called “An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education”. In my opinion, this is the strongest section of the book. Here Wilson shows from God’s Word the indisputable mandate that Christians have to educate the next generation — and specifically their own children — according to God’s objective standard of truth. Because all “true truth” is God’s truth, every possible area of study hinges on a proper understanding of the biblical worldview. There is no such thing as an education which is “worldview neutral”; children are either being taught to live and learn according to God’s Word, or they are being taught to live “by bread alone”. Therefore, education is truly a ministry, and something which Christians must take seriously, both individually and corporately.

One common objection to Christian education which Wilson addresses is the sentiment that Christians must enroll their children in public schools to be “salt and light” there. He argues first of all that, despite the fact that millions of Christians are in these school systems (and have been for generations), “we would be hard pressed to show that Christian kids are making a difference in the public schools.” It is not fair for children to be expected to contend for a faith in which they have not yet been sufficiently instructed, particularly when the entire system is formulated around a worldview that is antithetical to Christianity.

Section three is titled, “An Approach to Distinctively Classical Education”. Wilson expounds further upon Sayers’ essay, and explores and details the content and methods of teaching the Trivium. He addresses some specific problems that every classical educator must overcome, whether teaching in a private school or a homeschool. Things such as television, video games, and other social and cultural distractions keep students from their books and studies, contributing to an anti-intellectual society.

One of the most interesting problems he addresses is that of money. He points out that, because churches and Christian parents have for so long abdicated the responsibility of teaching to the State, there is a price to pay to begin to set things right. Since all citizens are paying taxes to support public schools, those wishing to give their children a Christian education must actually “pay double”. Wilson is optimistic, though, that once a “mature Christian school system” reaches nationwide prominence (essentially returning education to the free market) there may be an opportunity from permanent relief. He is adamantly against school vouchers or any type of government involvement with private schools.

In one final chapter from this section, Wilson shows why he believes classical private schools to be superior to classical homeschooling. The argument here revolves primarily around two things. First is a “division of labor”. It is rare that a husband and wife will be equipped to teach every subject excellently, whereas in a private school teachers can excel within their own field. A practical example: One teacher trained in Latin can instruct 20 students. For 20 homeschool students to learn Latin, 20 homeschool parents must first learn Latin.

Second is the social aspect of learning. Much of the dialectic and rhetoric stages of the Trivium depend upon students learning to debate, defend, and articulate their beliefs. These things happen best in a community of students in a classroom setting. Wilson does say that homeschooling is the second best option after a private Classical Christian School (i.e. – better than traditional non-classical Christian schools), and would have been his choice had a good private school not been available.

The final section of the book is labeled, “Conclusions”. This is basically a short summary of everything previously stated, with a few points of emphasis and clarification.

Overall, Wilson’s arguments are very well-written and persuasive. Many skeptics (and particularly homeschoolers) will say rightly that an extreme minority of schools fit this description; that Logos is an exception rather than a standard that can be matched. However, this is a tough argument to make against Wilson, who has shown in his own personal experience that, when no suitable educational option exists, one can endeavor to create one from scratch as he did. It’s certainly not easy, but when education is a priority, a parent will do whatever it takes to get the best possible education for their children. “The proof is in the pudding”, as they say. Not only has Logos thrived over nearly three decades, but the organization that grew from it — the Association of Classical Christian Schools — now has nearly 250 schools and continues to steadily grow!

This book ought to be considered a must-read for every Christian parent, but particularly those who are teachers in the public schools or those who homeschool their children. You may not agree with everything Wilson says, but he will definitely have you thinking about vitally important things you may have never considered before! Buy it here.

During normal economic times it is difficult for many of us to ask others for money.  I believe it should be hard.  This difficulty usually means you have a strong relationship with this person and you don’t want to do anything to damage it.  Asking a friend for money for a specific project is serious business.

When you pick up the newspaper or hear the news, all the talk is about how bad things are with the economy.  Such news may give you one more excuse to avoid making the ask for a major gift, especially when a friend is involved.

What I would propose is that you acknowledge the fear and even tell your friend how uncomfortable you are in asking for a gift in times like these.  However, don’t stop there.  Individuals are still giving generous gifts to charities with an urgent cause, a clearly defined mission and the ability to show the difference they make in the lives of those they serve. 

What stands in the way is our own fear.  Here are five ways to overcome our fear:

1. You are not asking for yourself.  You are asking for a great cause you know will touch lives for the glory of our Lord.
2. Express the importance of the gift and what can be accomplished only with this size gift.
3. Ask for a specific amount of money.  Don’t ask the donor to just make a gift they can afford.  When you do this it conveys to the donor that there really is not a real urgent need.
4. Express what will happen if this project is not funded.  If possible, tell a story about someone who was blessed by your ministry and what would have happened if the ministry program was not funded.
5. Finally, pray before going to meet with the person.  Meditate upon this Scripture from 2 Timothy 1:7  “But God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and of self-discipline.” 

God is an awesome God and you are asking on His behalf for a ministry project that will touch many lives.  If you don’t believe this is true, you will probably not be successful in your solicitation for the gift.  Ask for the gift because it will help change a life.  You will be blessed by overcoming your fear.

So I was watching a video online this morning and I saw something familiar. Small world…

I thought I’d just throw out some random things just to get them out there.

• We finally ordered high-speed internet so Jamie and I will actually be able to use the internet at the same time, and it won’t be over the Cricket network. Right now, we use a Cricket USB modem. Can’t wait for high-speed.
• Even though I have been off for the summer from my teaching job, I really need a vacation. I have to get out of this town! haha.
• I am somewhat excited to get back to teaching. I am looking forward to finding new and exciting ways to share the gospel with elementary-age children. If you didn’t know already, I am a worship leader and a full-time tutor at a Christian school. I run a chapel service every Wednesday that is truly a blessing to me and I hope to all the kids as well. I’m allowed to preach and lead worship! What an amazing privilege. Last night, I couldn’t sleep because I felt like God was giving me all these great ideas for things to do during the services. Ever feel like God is giving you these amazing ideas, but you know that you can’t do them on your own and you can’t do them without a great deal of resources? That’s what I feel like now. Not just with my the ministry I do at the school, but with a lot of different things too. I really hope and pray that God enables me to see some of these ideas fleshed out into real life. Do you ever do this though: you’ll have all these ideas and then they just drift into nowhere and they never come to fruition? Like there is a place where all lofty ideas and goals go to die. Hopefully some of these ideas don’t go there! lol.
• I really have been frustrated lately with … (as I type this I start to realize that God is the one in control so I have to be careful with any frustrations. Ultimately I am frustrated with the way God is doing things so I must repent and instead, offer up prayers to God for him to bring about certain things, but also knowing that it is up to Him and His will to bring about those things and His judgment is perfect and sinless.) Sooooo…. lol.
• I guess I should say I really pray for things to change. One of things I pray most about right now is for the salvation of one of my best friends who is currently not a believer. Notice I said in the last point that ultimately God is in control. Fully in control. Here is my Calvinism (which I would rather just call biblical thinking) coming out. My friend is blind to the truth of the gospel and Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.” So if my friend is still blind to God and not able to see Him for who He truly is, because of the blinding effect of inherited and willful sin, I need God to do something. I need God to exercise His free will and break that blindness and choose to show my friend mercy and grace. God in no way has to do that. No one has claim on his mercy or grace. God is not in debt to anyone. That is not how it works. God is free to show mercy and grace to whoever He wills (reference Romans 9:14-18). If you are reading this, pray for my friend. Pray that his household comes to know Christ as did Crispus’ household in Acts 18:8.
• Did you ever really think about the fact that some unbelievers are so much more kind and selfless than believers and wonder why? I was talking to Jamie recently about this and she made a good point. She said, “they believe that as long as they are good people and they do good to others, then they will be in heaven.” Then I thought, we Christians know we are sinners saved by grace and that we are far from being perfect. For us, it almost seems okay that we are stuck in our sin and remain mean and selfish. Then we think, “well Jesus died for our sins so it’s okay.” The Bible warns us of this terribly dangerous way of thinking. Hebrews 10:26, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” We can learn a lot from non-believers. Although these kind acts may be done in some sad attempt to gain a pleasant afterlife, and in the end find out that all those righteous acts were as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6), they could honestly be doing some of the good acts that the law lays out, because the Bible says in Romans 2:14-16 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” God judges the heart, but I have been shown great friendship from certain unbelievers. The experience has led me to thank God for them and also it has motivated me to be better marked by love, for Christ sake.
• I’m not handy at all but, I put in a pulley system so that Jamie can now hang clothes outside our apartment. Here is a picture of that.
  

  Makes me want to use it as a rip chord but I know it won't hold me.

  I had so much fun making this it makes me want to make some kind of crazy pulley system. Got any ideas?

• Well that’s all for now.

swear words? did they really just ask me this question? do they know who I am? ABSO-FUCKIN-LUTLY! im pro swear words…

i used to think “oh, they’re just words get over it” and in a way i still believe that but they arent meant for every where and everyone…for instance i dont curse in church (not that I go to to church that often but if/when I do… no cursing) school/work? hmm…. I went to a christian school and yes i used to curse up and down those halls….work yea the jobs i had made me want to curse…especially my last job. I did customer service/tech support for dishnetwork and some of the people that used to call there would be on my last nerve! but god gave us the mute button and thats how i kept my job untill my job was outsourced to mexico march2010! yay! gotta love this country. i dont really miss the job i jus miss the $ i will admit they did pay pretty good $ they just treat there employees like dog shit….and their customers too but thats another story.

back to the matter at hand… i dont feel that children shouldnt curse…teens? hmm thats a tricky 1. i have a lil brother who is 19 and a lil sister who is 17 i wouldnt say anything if they cursed cuz i did the same thing @ their age but at the same time if i had a teenage child i wouldnt want them cursing infront of me…. u cant controll what ur children do when you’re not with them, u can only make suggestions.

so to sum this up im pro-cursing but theres a time and a place.

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Paper, paper everywhere. With Josiah’s autism diagnosis, between all of the insurance documents, daily report sheets from his therapy center, and multitude of forms to fill out, my counter always has paper on it. And file boxes and binders overflow with paper. I must plant some trees someday just to reconcile for the scads of paper this family has been responsible for using.

But there was one stapled report I haphazardly picked up before bed the other night, and I didn’t realize it was anything besides just another treatment plan for OT (Occupational Therapy) that was sent home. Instead, as my eyes darted across the page, I started to experience that feeling right above your diaphram when you get the wind knocked out of you. 

This was a more significant piece of paper. It was the re-evaluation report to monitor Josiah’s progress in OT. Statements like, “Josiah scored in the 1 percentile for his age of 4 years and 9 months” and “Josiah continues to present with significant sensory delays impacting his ability to maintain an optimal level of arousal for participation in functional tasks” turned on my waterworks. I HATE PAPER.

Man, and this was just OT. Have you seen how the kid moves and climbs? I kind of thought he was doing half-way decent in OT. I mean, I know Josiah has tons of developmental delays–those parent meetings where we get to see sheets with the colored bars and sky-high skill towers left largely unfilled prove that. But there’s something about hearing the therapists say, “He’s doing so well” and “He’s improved so much” and “He had a great day” that causes you to forget. It’s the paper that jolts you to reality. These are not the parent-teacher conferences and report cards that I had imagined for my little boy.

For whatever reason, a poor report makes me feel like I have failed somehow. Despite all of the work and prayers and vitamins and hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions, I couldn’t perform well enough to grease the wheels of true progress for my boy. I’m also coming to realize that I have issues–and God is healing them up in me–but they started when I was a kid, and having a child with special needs has unearthed some of my unhealthy paradigms of control. Let’s talk some revelation that’s been coming to me…

When I was young, I went to a Christian grade school. This program was really big into publicizing each student’s level of achievement. We had “star charts” in our little cubicles that anyone could see as they went by, and if you got something like a B or above on a test, you’d get a small star to stick on your chart. If you scored 100% on a test, you’d get a big gold star. Anything less, you got an understated green dot on your chart, which meant, “Way to pass, but don’t get too excited about your bald little dot.” We also had weekly assemblies where students would get “congratulation slips” (again, if you got a B or better on a test) that you would go upfront to receive it with a handshake from the proud principal as if you were walking up to get your diploma or something.

I’m just now processing kind of how messed up that was–and I was one of the best students who had tons of “big” stars and walked home with armful of awards every semester! I wonder now how the kids who didn’t do so well felt, how stupid and less-than that they thought they were because they had more dots than stars. But as for me, I was always after those BIG stars.

I’m sure the people who created the program had good intentions. There are probably psychological studies that support the goal-setting and public reward system. But, recently I had a distant memory come to my mind that jolted me a little bit. My great aunt, an “old maid” who lived with us until she died when I was 15, always loved to help me with my school work. I was struggling with a math assignment and she really quizzed me so I would be ready for the test. I came home with the congratulation slip that showed I scored a 91%, and I proudly showed it to Auntie. She said, “Well don’t worry, you’ll do better next time.”

I don’t want to get all lay-on-the-therapy-couch over the top with this, but I believe that phrase, along with  this private school’s public reward system can partially be credited for my drive to set high goals for myself to achieve, and can partially be blamed for an unhealthy dose of perfectionism that I am having to deconstruct, brick by brick. In every area, good was not good enough; I had to work until it was best (by no prodding from my parents, mind you). I mean, really, what’s more important–marks on a paper, or a real life person with a unique personality and strengths and heart? A person that God said he knew even before he formed her in her mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5)? In our weakness, He is strong, right?

So, tonight I’m trying to recalibrate. I am doing the very best I can. Without thrusting my head in the sand to the facts, I cannot focus on Josiah’s weaknesses and deficits. He’s a real boy–not made from wood, nor defined by paper–who is delightful, who loves music, who is full of endless joy, and who has a destiny that will likely astound us all. Or, as another important piece of paper says,

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

When I was an infant, and well on into my toddler years, my mother would dress me in girls’ clothes. She wanted a girl, and I had a penis, but my mom is one lady who knows how to solve a problem. You would never know it, but I am a vision in Osh-Kosh-B-Gosh’s 1988 line of women’s wear. Soon, her temporary fix would be discovered. On an afternoon that my dad returned home early from work, my cross-dressing days abruptly concluded, and with it, the only gender identity crisis I have ever endured.

For all of her problem solving savvy, she never did figure out how to remedy the problem that would soon become me (how I like to put it anyway). No amount of compulsory cross-dressing could have. There are a number of theories that aim to identify possible reasons that creatures like me begin to exist. These include being the middle child, not getting enough attention, simply being evil, and being too smart for my unchallenging environment. I prefer this last one. And there may be some validity to that position also, particularly while I was under the tutelage of particular educational institutions.

Up until I graduated from high school (This too is fiercely debated to this day. More on that later.), I attended private Christian schools for the overwhelming majority of my education. Some might say that, in areas of emphasizing the importance of a worldview, stunting sexual experimentation, and harboring delinquents, these Christian institutions excelled. Conversely, others might conjecture that, in terms of teaching a balanced and fair dose of available perspectives, these Christian institutions failed–in essence, they forfeited because they plainly refused to teach anything other than the infallible Word of God. The trick there was that–and this is the trick on which many of the debates between secularism and Christianity are hinged–the infallible Word of God was taught according to Mr. McRevice (first name: Phillip).

Being that God was not around to narrate His own words, the Bible could only have been narrated by men. Men, as we know, are fallible (although, less so than women), or their words are anyway. Therefore, purporting that any teaching of the Word of God was infallible was simply a fraud; and arguably, it was a fraud also by the legal definition, as their deception was intended to obtain money from students and their families in the form of tuition. How this has continued to occur to this day, unchallenged in a court of law, is a mystery to me. If you’re reading this Mr. Darrow, we should talk. Email me.

So school was not all that challenging for me. This is not to say that I was of above-average intelligence. This is to say that Christian schools were of below-average effectiveness. In other words, if the primary goal was for them to convince me of anything, they seldom succeeded. Although at times they were right and I was wrong, I sensed that their goal was to mold me into the person they wanted me to be, to wear the uniform without asking questions, and my innate stubbornness simply resisted. Questions were the key. In true Socratic spirit, questions were often my weapon of choice in the battles, ones waged over such classroom topics as the moral permissibility of dancing. “Wait, what do you mean we can’t dance?” Okay, they may have prevailed in that struggle–because to this day, I cannot dance, having never learned for fear of eternal damnation–but the war was far from finished.

Unlike most wars, I knew the exact date of its conclusion years in advance: graduation day. My strategy was to simply attack, evade, and repeat. And I did so relentlessly. In fact, in the same way that many people claim that some traumatic and life-changing event caused them to convert to Christianity–such as Saul in the Bible when he fell off a donkey and became Paul–I think that throughout the course of my struggle, I caused the opposite to be proven too.

My arch nemesis, who was my high school Bible teacher, basketball coach, athletic director, and an overall model of piety, first crossed blades with me in Bible class over the issue of whether or not it would be a sin for a Christian missionary to proselytize a nudist colony and while there to, as the Bible says, “do as the Romans do.” I contended that Christian missionaries to a nudist colony would be Biblically compelled to be naked for God. He strongly disagreed and further asserted the fervency with which he held his opinion when he essentially disciplined me for disagreeing with him. He exacted his revenge by kicking me off of the basketball team, my beloved sport and means of coping with the rigors of indoctrination. This traumatic event changed me. I would never again return to the God squad.

I think he was mad because he secretly loved the loophole I had offered him whereby he could pursue his interests of the flesh, and still retain his Christian reputation and his Christian paycheck. This theory turned out to be true. A few years later, I was informed that he had gotten the boot as well. He had taken my proposal, modified it for his own purposes, and extramaritally fornicated with the school’s Christian P.E. teacher. In the end, he lost both his Christian reputation and his Christian paycheck (and reportedly his wife). I am certainly not glad that tragedy has befallen this man and, incidentally, his family too. I am only glad that he illustrated an essential point so well.

The Christian school environment, to me at least, wreaked of adulterated ideas, ones that may have once been great, ones that may have once been worth fighting and even dying for. Within the whitewashed walls of my Christian school, those once great ideas were just words from the mouths of men. And for my Bible teacher, those ideas which he spouted religiously were not meaningful enough to him to remain faithful to his wife and family. It is an unfortunate story that finally shifted the momentum in the favor of the naysayers.

I had all but won, all but graduated that is. Graduation would be my victory and my liberation. And then I graduated. “Yes!” And then I un-graduated. “Wait, what?” Well, that is basically what the letter said that the school mailed me several months after they mailed me my diploma. Not wanting to concede defeat, they feebly attempted to negate my high school graduation. Because during high school I had chosen to take an accelerated course load, I graduated early. I actually was in a position to graduate at the conclusion of my junior year. But I wanted to give basketball another shot. I wanted to try again my senior year. So I returned to school and had to enroll in freshman-level courses as there was nothing left for me to take.

The short story is that my old Bible teacher and basketball coach was still there, and he thwarted my efforts to play again. So upon learning that I would not be permitted to play, I threw in the towel and graduated. I had completed far more course work than the school required so they issued me a diploma. And they mailed it to me.

Then, as I previously mentioned, they sought to rescind that diploma on grounds of . . . get ready . . . an obscure rule that said that for every year a student attended the school, they would be required to take a full year of Bible. But the intention of that rule is to state that students must remain enrolled in Bible for the entire time they are in school, not to retroactively cheat graduates of their diplomas simply because they disagreed with your faith. The summary of their position was that although I had completed 4 full years of Bible, the fifth credit of Bible, the one from my miniature senior year, was not a full credit. Therefore, I was in violation of that rule. My position of course was that I had completed all state, county, and school requirements for high school graduation. I had graduated and received a diploma as proof of their acknowledgment of my graduation.

For further proof, consider this. I am in the senior yearbook. I even won a senior superlative: best sense of humor. There is a page in the yearbook denoting this. My graduation and senior superlative was commemorated by a plaque that hangs on one of the school’s hallway walls. Luckily for me, God invented the paper trail long before my Christian school discovered sin (a blanket term that includes many things: fraud, adultery, etc.). So, both in reality and now, on a technicality on account of my paper trail, a yearbook, and a plaque, I can claim victory by graduation. The war is over. Long live the graduate.

What would you change? – Your age? Your retirement plan?  Your job? What is it, that if you could do it all over again, you re-do?

Right now, I am looking back on a lot of different events in my life that have brought me to the point I am today. Would I change any of them?  Sure! BUT would I be the person I am today – where I am today and would any of it be “better”?

I really and honestly don’t believe so.  I believe that there is a plan for our lives, and that He brings us exactly where and how He decides. Has it always been pleasant? – Heck no! But without my children I would never know my grandchildren.  Without a babysitter quitting on me at night and having to find daycare before morning would I ever have been in the right place to find my church home at Pleasantview here in Phoenix through their private Christian K4-8^th grade school more than 20 years ago? I doubt it.

Every path we go down has a benefit or a consequence…I think that every path I’ve gone down has had a benefit (although some would say consequence) and now, with new paths in front of me again, I just pray for the guidance to choose the one that will bring benefit to everyone I know…because we are NOT in this alone – We are all touched every day by the people all around us.

Without recent financial situations, would I have been open to the suggestion of starting my own home-based business?  Probably not – but it has been a ball and continues to open my eyes to the wonderful possibilities that lay before me with a future that is wide open!  And the people I am meeting, like the award-winning author, Marcia Fine, and the effervescent Gia Heller, and the women at the Arizona Women Networking organization – Oh my – what fun!!!

So many neat things to learn and do and learn some more and may it all count for His gain and naught of my own – for without Him, I am nothing.

Writing this post made me remember a song from long ago (I found the words and am going to sing it Sunday) – it goes like this.

(Mylon R. Lefevre)

Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I’d surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Without Him I would be dying
Without Him I’d be enslaved
Without Him life would be worthless
But with Jesus thank God I’m saved

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don’t turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost I would be
Without Him how lost I would be

Our church, Christian Ministries Church of Southwest Missouri, has a Christian school named Christian Ministries Academy. The drama team put on a play called, “The Hiding Place”. It’s a play about Corrie Ten Boom. They did an excellent job.

To see all pics from this play, click here.