Should Catholic schools in the U.S. emphasize classical education?

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Should all Catholic schools emphasize classical education? No

Should there be some Catholic schools that emphasize classical education? Yes

God Bless
 
Some elements of it should be brought back into schools. I don’t know about an emphasis though, that would probably depend on what you mean by emphasize. I thought the emphasis in Catholic schools is to foster a relationship with Christ. But, I think I know what your getting at, and I would say, yes, there should be elements related to, at least, critical thinking brought back into schools.
 
I would like to see specific schools which teach a classical curriculum. There are many benefits which allow students to become more well rounded. I really like how they use original source materials rather than an interpretation of those materials. Not to sound too enlightens like, but the emphasis on both reasoning and faith is a great combination when done well.
 
Not just Catholic, but all schools. The ability to reason is crucial, not only to becoming a good Christian but for living intelligently in the world. A few generations ago public schools used a classical education model.

Current schools that use the classical curriculum, including for instance the Chesterton Network of Schools, teach Philosophy. I believe Philosophy was taught a few generations ago a little in all the courses, but there is a good reason for teaching it directly. Public schools formerly used texts like “McGuffey’s Reader” that incorporated a great deal of classic literature into small bites kids could grasp. This was replaced by the modern system of Horace Mann, John Dewey, etc, which wanted public schools to teach kids how to be accepted by their peers. We see the ultimate results of this “progression” with Common Core, and the “snowflakes” on many campuses, that want to forbid any unfamiliar thought.

What was History became “Social Studies”. What had been focus on classic literature became Contemporary views on literature. Phonics was replaced by sight reading. There was no examination of what might be True or False, but essentially everything is true, in a way. The assumption is that whatever trend came later, is wiser or more moral, or more true.
 
SteveLy said:
I would like to see specific schools which teach a classical curriculum. There are many benefits which allow students to become more well rounded. I really like how they use original source materials rather than an interpretation of those materials. Not to sound too enlightens like, but the emphasis on both reasoning and faith is a great combination when done well.
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FYI - Philly does have classical schools.

As of 2016, we have 2 classical high schools, and starting this fall (2017) we will have 3 classical high schools
Plus in Philly, we have at least 4 Classical K-8 schools too (3 of them also have pre-K)
Plus, there is St. Philomena Academy which offers free tuition for grades K-12 (though there might be a financial requirement) sjhouse.org/our-academy.html

God Bless!
 
commenter said:
The assumption is that whatever trend came later, is wiser or more moral, or more true.
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You basically summed up the “wisdom” and “enlightenment” of modernity.

As for classical education? Yes please. Not just in specific schools (why?) but in all Catholic schools. If I wanted a public school or specific-track (vocational, arts) I’d send my kids to X school. Besides a strong Catholic faith formation that should be universal, the classical education should be universal as well. Faith and intellect go hand in hand. Cultivate both.

The only issue I find with this is finding faculty to teach subjects like philosophy and Latin at the grade school level.

I also want to add this is a timely post. I’m currently in graduate school to become a high school social worker (public), and after I get my independent license to hopefully switch over to a Catholic high school in my area. After much thought in how to make Catholic schools more appealing (besides lowering the tuition per child) after seeing parochial and independent Catholic schools close, I thought about the curriculum and saw myself at the helm of a Catholic school after a decade or so as a school social worker. Below are my concerns:
  1. amp up the seriousness of faith formation
  2. bring back several subjects under the classical liberal education model
  3. massive yearlong fundraiser (aids in lower tuition and layman benefits)
  4. hire religious orders to cut down half of the layman teachers (Catholic schools were practically free or had very, very low tuition once but due to the declining vocations laymen were hired)
 
phil19034 said:
FYI - Philly does have classical schools.

As of 2016, we have 2 classical high schools, and starting this fall (2017) we will have 3 classical high schools
Plus in Philly, we have at least 4 Classical K-8 schools too (3 of them also have pre-K)
Plus, there is St. Philomena Academy which offers free tuition for grades K-12 (though there might be a financial requirement) sjhouse.org/our-academy.html

God Bless!
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Wow! I was aware of the Regina Coeli Academy, but not the others. I am a bit embarrassed I didn’t know my alma mater Cardinal O’Hara has one, but very glad to see it!

Thanks for the information.
 
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