February 19, 2007

Why Not Government School?

This is a good question, especially since a government elementary school is a stone's throw (or two) from our house. We've already paid for it with our taxes after all! My wife could be there in a minute if she were ever called. Etc. Etc.

Porterdale Elementary would definitely be the path of least resistance; however, here are some quotes in line with the way we have answered the question for ourselves:

The school system that ignores God teaches its pupils to ignore God; and this is not neutrality. It is the worst form of antagonism, for it judges God to be unimportant and irrelevant in human affairs. This is atheism." ~ Gordon Clark

2. Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal! life, John 17:3 and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him Prov. 2, 3." ~ from the Rules and Precepts observed at Harvard University, 1642

What is Classical Education, Anyway?

Well, it is the sort of education received by the original Sons of Liberty and most of the Founding Fathers of our nation. In fact, it is the type of education which for centuries produced the great minds of history by educating according to the "trivium" of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. However, the last 150 years or so has seen the abandonment of the classical method--to our detriment.

The following links will introduce you to the trivium and the classical method:

The Trivium in a Capsule by Harvey Bluedorn
Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Book? by R.C. Sproul, Jr.
The Trivium in Biblical Perspective by Randy Booth
Inroduction to Classical Education from the "Classical Christian Homeschooling" website
Classical America A look at the influence of Classical Education on Early America

Also, CBN recently ran a feature on the Logos School, a classical Christian school that has produced many of the materials our children are and will be using. You can view that segment here.

About the Name "Sons of Liberty"

This is the official home of our family homeschool, which we've dubbed Sons of Liberty Academy. The original "Sons of Liberty" were principally formed by Samuel Adams (yes, the beer guy!) in Boston leading up to the American Revolution. The "Sons" included the likes of Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and Paul Revere--men who, to paraphrase, "feared not those who could kill the body, but rather feared Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell." We are proud to be the namesake of those lovers of freedom, but there is more to liberty than fighting "taxation without representation."

In a remarkable passage from John's Gospel, Jesus speaks about true liberty, true freedom... "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." —John 8:31-36 It is our hope to raise true Sons of Liberty as Jesus speaks of here. We hope this site will help to keep you updated on the achievements of Drew, Jacob, and Matthew as we all "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)