FAQ

Q: What is your Educational Philosophy?
A:

Classical

Classical education is not new. In fact it has been a sound, proven philosophy of education for hundreds of years, dating back to classical Greek civilization, and has produced some of the greatest minds in history. It can be understood in part by its methodology called the Trivium. The Trivium includes three stages.

The Grammar Stage is the study of fundamentals of various subjects like history, science, math, and language arts, in order to build a framework of knowledge. The goal is to teach these students from K-6th grades facts of "who," "what," "where," and "when," at a time when memorization of facts is easy and fun. Latin is the paradigm discipline of the Grammar Stage and begins in the third grade. Children can memorize Latin endings like \"amo, amas, amat\", just as easily as \"eeny, meenie, miney, mo!\"

The Dialectic Stage, which begins in Middle School, brings the data of the Grammar Stage into ordered relationships. Questions of how and why are thoroughly addressed. Formal and informal logic are taught with the goal of equipping the students with thinking skills, making them capable of detecting fallacious arguments.

The Rhetoric Stage makes use of the data of the Grammar Stage and the reasoning skills of the Dialectic Stage to teach high school students how to express what they think eloquently and persuasively.

Two goals are achieved by this method. First, the basics of a sound education are successfully imparted. What a joy to see children who can read and calculate well! The second is to see our young graduates go into the world with a firm grasp on the tools of learning. It will be a pleasure to see young men and women who can think.

Christian

At the crux of all of the teaching and learning is the Word of God. We stand firm on God's revelation of Himself and His world through the Bible which is the basis of every subject. After all, how can you have true learning without truth at the base? We believe it is necessary to always be reforming our views according to the truths of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. As we learn from our Christian heritage, we believe the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms best summarize the truths of the Scriptures. Learning which takes place outside of this Biblical worldview is hollow and weak at its very foundations and destined to collapse. Because God created, ordered, and rules all things, it is impossible to understand His creation properly apart from Him. Therefore, we seek to teach all subjects as parts of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center. This means that history, art, music, mathematics, etc., must all be taught in the light of God's existence and His revelation of His Son Jesus Christ.

Curriculum/Learning Atmosphere

Tall Oaks Classical School partners with parents in meeting an all-encompassing approach to learning. This learning process goes far beyond the teaching of subjects, rather students are equipped with the tools necessary for processing facts through a Christian Worldview in order to discern truth.

Students are free to learn joyfully in an atmosphere of holiness characterized by order, godly conduct and mutual respect. The stakeholders (parents, faculty and administration) through a covenant relationship have developed a safe and structured environment that develops high moral standards. These standards are unwavering and, as such, a thorough pre-enrollment screening is in place to insure all future parents share in this covenant responsibility.

Tall Oaks Classical School provides this learning process for students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Faculty instruction is guided by the trivium; grammar, logic and rhetoric. This methodology is taught consistent with a child's natural development. Besides the foundational skills of writing and interpreting literature, a classical curriculum includes Latin, Logic, Rhetoric and Debate. Other "grammars" include the terminology, principles, and processes of the sciences including mathematics, biology, physics, and chemistry. Greek is provided in the final years, and history is highlighted in view of "His Story". Additionally, extracurricular activities are provided for the purpose of developing leadership, teamwork, character and physical health.

Working on issues of the heart, developing critical thinking skills and instilling confidence through a mastery of subjects, our students will become tomorrow's leaders. They will boldly go out into the world with the tools necessary through their elected professions to recapture future generations to the Christian Worldview.

Standards of Quality Work

At Tall Oaks Classical School students are taught that doing their best in all their work is an unchangeable standard. It pleases God when work is done in a timely, thorough, and orderly manner. Therefore, our students are taught to do their best work "for the glory of God" and "as unto the Lord." When applied this translates into practical, consistent standards of good study and work habits. We complement this by teaching them good organizational methods and we see the students encouraging one another to do their best.

Parent Involvement

Scripture teaches in Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and Ephesians 6: 1-4 that parents, not the state or the church, are responsible for the education of their children. Therefore, we seek to support parents in this role through thorough and continuous communication between teacher, parent and student. We encourage parent participation at every level of the school and seek to provide an atmosphere where parents are honored and respected by administration and student alike.

Parental Feedback

In a recent inquiry of our participating parents, we were told that providing a Christ-centered classroom experience was paramount in their consideration of attending our school. Other positive elements were the dedicated, caring, Christian staff, and high academic standards. The Classical model, small classroom size (maximum of 18), and supportive student to teacher ratios rounded out their main considerations.

Suggested areas for improvement were implemented such as improved communication and opportunities to attend Board meetings, and our strategic plan include the need for sport and leadership programs.

Because of continuing dialogue with our parents, and the other positive aspects of school life already mentioned, Tall Oaks Classical School has a turnover of only ten percent (10%) annually of its student body. Predominantly, the reason for leaving relates to either job changes requiring a move out of the area, a desire to return to home schooling, or occasionally a dissatisfied parent who is not in agreement with the school standards.