Our Philosophy of Education

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To the extent of what classical education is able to provide, the Paideia of the Lord perhaps makes the most gain in the studies of the Humanities.  The study of humanities aims to embolden students to live virtuous lives for God, marked by discernment and piety; knowing their choices will impact not just themselves, but those around them.  Fundamentally the study of God’s image- bearers through history and literature.  Humanities are the collective works essentially bearing witness to God’s story.  With the integration of Scripture, History and Literature, students witness the rebellion of man against God throughout all history as well as the Redemptive plan of God unfolding.  History is seen more clearly through the lens of story, and literature reveals character and gives us often a first-hand perspective of choices and how they impact lives.  History gives us context, while selected liturgical works give deeper meanings of things.  Lessons will aim to produce for students cultural awareness, think critically, and form opinions.    

At Paideia Christian Academy, students will study Latin after developing foundational English grammar skills. Latin reinforces English grammar by applying grammatical skills to a new language. 

Because Latin is a well-ordered language, its students develop a logic of language that deepens their understanding of language in general. The study of Latin and its etymology builds a strong vocabulary foundation, as it is the basis of our legal and medical terms and the root of all Romance languages. Since about two thirds of English words are derived from Latin, the study of Latin provides invaluable insights into the structure and meaning of English words. Latin is also the language of Rome, the culture in which Christ came, so many foundational documents for the Christian Church were written in Latin. Not only does the clear grammatical structure of Latin make it beneficial to study to form the logical minds of students, but it is also an excellent language to be able to translate and interpret for deeper understanding.

We serve a mighty God of order, not chaos. There is objective truth found in solving a problem involving numbers. In a culture that overlooks the beautiful complexities and masterful design of numbers and order, we want our students to marvel at how perfectly God has given structure to the universe through the realm of mathematics. We begin with mastering the language of math through numbers and then to studying numbers in space, which is where geometry is exercised. Music is the study of numbers in time, and finally we are led to a deeper understanding of the cosmos, which is the study of numbers in space and time.

We start with arithmetic to build mastery in the language of numbers and then move to studying numbers in space, where we see geometry throughout creation. Music is the study of numbers in time, and finally this leads to a deeper understanding of the cosmos, which is the study of numbers in space and time. 

Through observing the world and God’s creations, we leave ourselves better equipped to wonder at God’s might and worship His omnipotence. We desire for our students to be inspired by His works, therefore, we use hands-on experiments and physical observations to solidify their learning from texts. Our hope is for all learners to master the skills of observations, hypothesis, and conclusions and know that His Word holds true through all scientific concepts.

Having a deep understanding that all truth is God’s Truth. We therefore can look at science with anticipation of truth being revealed.

Our philosophy of science fosters the pursuit of truth, beauty, and wonder, guiding students to recognize the alignment between God's Word and creation. We teach science as a tool, not the ultimate answer. Science cannot stand alone, it must be integrated with math, philosophy, and the arts for true mastery. Mastery goes beyond acquiring knowledge—it requires a deep, applied understanding of God’s ordered world. We do this through discussion, observation,  and hands-on experiments. 

As image- bearers of the Divine Creator, we as humans have been given the unique privilege to not only witness the intricate details of creation whispering of His Glory before us, but also to “create” that which is true, good, and rightly beautiful. And that, in a culture that is dominated by visuals, is important now more than ever.  Today, there is a war against beautiful, transcendental art and design; in a time where eyes are rarely trained to see or appreciate that which should serve as a witness to God’s power and beauty. Art in a Classical Christian setting, should develop the skill to recognize, appreciate, and produce art that can serve as an apologetic.

Music reflects God’s order and beauty through rhythms and harmonies that align with His creation. It calms the mind, awakens the soul, and reveals truth, beauty, and goodness while pointing to Christ. As a singing people, we are called to glorify God through music, making it both a gift and an act of worship. Music will be taught as a language and skill, equipping students to hear, sing, read music, and worship with understanding.

“The body and the soul are united in such a way that failure to cultivate the capacities inherent in either is failure to cultivate the whole person.” (The Liberal Arts Tradition, Ravi and Scott) 

We understand and believe physical and cognitive development to be deeply intertwined, each supporting the other and crucial in a child's holistic development. We also realize that God's Word speaks to stewardship of our physical bodies. We choose to integrate physical activity throughout our day to support the needs of our students as the teacher discerns is most beneficial.  Outdoor lessons, nature journaling, regular moving around in the classroom (as opposed to sitting in one desk endlessly) are all things you can expect for your student(s).  This not only preserves our condensed academic schedule, but also integrates physical activity into our students' learning and normal rhythms, in contrast to having one time of day set aside for physical activity.  We also highly encourage families to prioritize ample time during their home days and weekends to be outdoors, play games, take walks, do outdoor chores, explore places, swim, participate in team sports, etc. We desire to model and encourage our students to build lifelong healthy habits in regards to physical activity and also discover ways they enjoy being active that will enrich their lives now and for years to come.