Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Book Review: The Well-Trained Mind, A Guide to Classical Education at Home
I picked up this book from the library because I liked the title. "A well-trained mind"--yes, that's what I want for my child. I had only the vaguest notion of what a classical education is. "Might as well find out, eh?"
This book is written by a woman and her adult daughter whom she homeschooled in the classical tradition: Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. They have a website, which is frequently updated, at welltrainedmind.com.
This book first explains what a classical education is, and why it is necessary. It then goes into an overview of the classical education and then into a detailed, grade by grade, subject by subject explanation of what to teach and how to teach it. Included at the end of every chapter is a list of how to obtain the sources recommended therein.
A classical education is based on the ancient Roman tradition of the trivium, which is a 3-tiered educational approach based on the age-related learning needs of the student. The first tier is the grammar level, corresponding to first through fourth grades. It's purpose is to fill the student up with knowledge and the ability to acquire knowledge so that he can do something with it in the next two steps.
The second tier is the logic level, corresponding to fifth through eigth grades. At this level, the study of logic begins. The literary/historical cycle is started again, but this time the student begins to read primary sources and to apply the rules of logic to them.
The third tier is the rhetoric level, corresponding to ninth through twelfth grades. At this level, the student learns to express himself. The literary/historical cycle starts a third time, this time with in-depth study of the Great Books.
The classical education is a very reading and writing intensive education. It inlcudes the study of Latin and of a modern language, mathematics and science, art and music, and, yes, diagramming sentences. It's purpose is to turn out an adult with the ability to learn anything he might need to know--the ability to express himself clearly and compellingly--the ability to see through advertising, psuedo-science, the mass media, and politicians--the ability to create for himself a well-rounded and soul-satisfying life.
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