The Concept of Veritas Christian Academy
Veritas Christian Academy is a classical Christian school that has been providing quality Christ centered education since 2000. The Christian aspect teaches each student to see
life through a Biblical worldview; everything a student learns has God as point of reference. Each member of our staff is committed to integrity and a love of teaching both academics and the Word. The “Classical” aspect is a method of education which revolves around three stages of learning called the trivium, the three stages of learning designed by God that coincide with a child’s mental development as he matures. As instructional stages, the trivium follows the following progression:
- The GRAMMAR stage which corresponds to the elementary grades. It is the stage in which the child has a natural affinity for storing tremendous amounts of information, from nursery rhymes to math facts, and recalling that information at will.
- The DIALECTIC stage which corresponds to the middle school grades. It is the stage in which the student is learning to reason. In the grammar stage, facts are learned; in the dialectic stage, the student tries to understand these facts and begins to relate those facts to one another in a significant way. The science of “logic” is taught at this stage and gives the student the tools he needs to question accurately and arrive at valid conclusions. We teach each student to learn to question and reason while maintaining an attitude of honor and respect.
- The RHETORIC stage which corresponds to the late junior high and high school years. It is the stage in which self-discovery and expression are the primary concerns of the student and where the intellectual abilities flower. In the grammar stage, facts are learned; in the dialectic stage, these facts are begun to be understood; and in the rhetoric stage, the student learns to express what they now understand and abstract thinking reaches its height.
Why Do We Teach Latin?
Overall, Latin tends to improve a student’s performance in all academic areas. Some of the most common reasons for teaching Latin in a classical school are:
- A greater understanding of the English language. English grammar and vocabulary can be quite complex; Latin is much clearer and more organized. Many students find it easier to learn more complex grammatical concepts in Latin and then apply them to English.
- A significant increase in verbal scores on the ACT and SAT exams. Analytical and problem solving scores, often associated closely with math skills, also increase significantly among Latin students.
- The literature it produced broadens one’s imagination. The beauty and imagery of the epic poetry, myths and early novels are lost in translation but are fully realized when read in their original language. This helps the student improve their own style of writing and expression.
- Opens the door to more easily learn other languages that are derived from Latin (Spanish, French, Italian, etc.).
