Have you tried to find one book that eplained in simple terms the who, what, why and how of classical education? Your search is over. Andrew A. Campbell's new The Latin Centered Curriculum gives teachers and parents an interesting and easy to read guide to what classical education is, how it came about, and who are its major exponents. In addition to a useful scope and sequence for how classical education can be done in a home or private school, Campbell explains the central principle behind classical education.
Campbell begins with a short history pf the modern classical movement, and distinguishes those strains of modern classical education (which he calls "neo-classical" approaches) that downplay the predominant role of Latin from the traditional classical approach that sees Latin at the center of the curriculum.
"Classical education," he says, "is a curriculum grounded upon Greek, Latin, and the study of the civilization from which they arose."
In addition to chapters on Latin, Greek, and logic, Campbell covers the various content areas of classical education, such as English Studies, Classical Studies, Christian and Modern Studies, with sections on arithmetic, science, and mathematics.
But this is far from a purely theoretical book. In a chapter entitled, "Scope and Sequence, " he gives a practical overview of what Latin-based classical curriculum looks like from Kindergarten to 12th grade. With helpful charts and explanations, this book constitutes a manual for the Christian educator who wants a complete understanding of what is involved in a classical education.
The most important section in the book, may well be the chapter titled "Multum non Multa." This is the principle sometimes expressed by the maxim, "Less is more." It is the idea that, rather than throwing multiple subjects at students and burying them under a mountain of unconnected disciplines, educators should instead employ an integrated focus on a few important core disciplines and related subject areas.
The best education, Campbell points out, is simple but deep.
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