2018 Workshop Talk | 59:26 | All Grade Levels, Latin, Greek & Language
Summary
In sixth century A.D., Cassiodorus ambitiously outlined a program that would integrate the proven academic studies of Greece and Rome with the study of sacred writing deemed necessary to fully equip the mind and the souls of our youth for a life lived to the glory of God alone. In this text it was Cassiodorus who laid out the seven liberal arts as the pillars of such education. Today the term liberal arts is not so clear cut as it once was. Modern day students and even educators might struggle to give a clear and concise definition. We in classical Christian education still look to Cassiodorus’ framework to define this magnificent seven as grammar, logic, rhetoric (the trivium), along with arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy (the quadrivium). The challenge we face in modern times is to redeem an approach to teaching these seven liberal arts as part of an integrated whole. The Latin classroom may be the last bastion of such study. As the lingua franca of Europe for well over a millenia, Latin is the common thread that draws all seven studies together. In Latin we find the rhetoric of Cicero and Quintilian. In Latin we find the scientific treatises of Galileo and Newton. In Latin we find the muses who inspired Vergil and the countless poets and artists who followed him. In Latin we find the writings of the early church fathers, the chronicles of church history. Within a Latin reading course the teacher has the delightful opportunity to lead students through all these studies. Latin is not merely a study of language, but a course in world knowledge. This workshop intends to demonstrate how such readings may be woven together to showcase the seven liberal arts as students grow in their reading proficiency.
Speaker
Karen Moore has filled both teaching and administrative roles at Grace Academy of Georgetown, a classical Christian school in central Texas, where she has built the 3rd– 12th grade classical language program. She holds a BA in classics from the University of Texas at Austin. She has over 15 years of experience teaching Latin, Greek, and ancient humanities in classical Christian schools. Karen also serves Grace Academy as the sponsor for their award-winning chapter of the Junior Classical League. She is the author of the Latin Alive! Reader: Latin Literature from Cicero to Newton, multiple Latin texts and the Latin for Teachers Training Program, all published through Classical Academic Press. Karen blogs on all things Latin at www.latinaliveonline.com. She and her husband, Bryan, are the proud parents of two children at Grace Academy and one Grace Academy graduate.
Additional Materials
The Association of Classical & Christian Schools presents Repairing the Ruins, the ACCS annual conference, copyright ACCS. You may make additional copies of this recording for use by your school but please do not sell any copies of the recording, or post it on the internet.
Library Home