Classical Education: The Art of Learning

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

Although classical education now seems novel to those of us raised with progressive education, it actually is an enduring form of education first used by the Greeks and Romans, developed through centuries, training many of the great thinkers throughout history. It was not until the modern period, that educators started shifting away from a classical to a "progressive" model. Yet even now, there are still elements (broken stones) of classical education throughout our current educational system. For those of us interested in recovering classical education, it is a matter of returning home, a matter of, as Doug Wilson puts it, "repairing the ruins".

Dorothy Sayer in her now famous article, The Lost Tools of Learning, states

that although we often succeed in teaching our pupils 'subjects,' we fail lamentably on the whole in teaching them how to think: they learn everything, except the art of learning. She goes on to say, "...modern education concentrates on teaching subjects, leaving the method of thinking, arguing, and expressing one's conclusions to be picked up by the scholar as he goes along; mediaeval education [the period that systematized and defined classical education]concentrated on first forging and learning to handle the tools of learning, using whatever subject came handy as a piece of material on which to doodle until the use of the tool became second nature.

This is what classical education is all about, teaching the art of learning. So while there must be 'subjects' of some kind (one learns the theory of grammar while learning a specific language), the purpose is not just to transmit a certain pool of knowledge but to train the mind to use the very tools of thought and learning. Grammar, logic, and rhetoric, also know as the Trivium or "three roads" are the central disciplines (master tools) used in classical education to enable one to study any other subject. Dr. Perrin writes in An Introduction to Classical Education: A Guide for Parents,

Of course in order to learn the use of these master tools (grammar, logic and rhetoric), is is necessary to apply them to some piece of wood, to some subject--and so actual subjects must be studied (English, Latin, History, etc.). But note that the chief goal was to master the tools--for in mastering the tools, the subject (any subject) would soon be mastered as well. We encounter a paradox: classical educators favor tools over content and therefore help students to master more content than ever. They have taught their students how to learn.

So tomorrow as we continue our look into classical education, we will delve further into these master tools, the Trivium.

1 Comment Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

Guest post by: Kim Nielsen

I was planning on writing about our journey with classical education this week,but read the Together for Adoption blog and couldn't pass up the opportunity to highlight the release of a new book by Katie Davis. Dan Cruver writes,

“As I read Katie’s book, I felt like I was reading Amy Carmichael. As Amy did in her life, Katie shows Jesus to be amazingly wonderful not only in what she writes, but also in how she selflessly cares for the fatherless. If you want to love Jesus more and better understand his love for the least of these, read Kisses from Katie. She is for our generation what Amy was for hers: a hero in fulfilling God’s call to care for orphans.”

I found Katie's blog a couple of years ago and have been challenged, encouraged, and amazed at her story. I look forward to the release of her book on October 4th and encourage all to read about her story of faith in caring for the orpahns and people of Uganda.

*More on classical education later this week

Classical Education: Latin, Virtue, and Integration

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

There is much more to be said about classical education, but I hope this short series has answered some of your questions and given you some resources for further research. I have much to learn about classical education, but the further I delve in the more I love it. We will end today with a look at a few more important components of classical education.

Classical education is known for teaching classical education such as Latin and Greek. There are many benefits of learning Latin: increased scores on standardized tests, reinforcement of English grammar, increased aptitude for vocabulary (50% of our English words derived from Latin, 30% from Greek), and a capacity for learning other Romance languages such as French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Because Latin grammar is so systematic, logical, and straightforward it makes it the ideal language to learn grammar. Classical languages become a tool for learning all language and honing thought.

Although classical education aims to train the mind, it also looks at the formation of the whole student including character, virtue, and faith. Characteristics such as diligence, zeal, and perseverance are fostered in classical education as well as a love for learning. Great Books of both the past and present not only help students to recognize and imitate good literature, but also create a forum for discussion of what is beautiful, good, and true. They are an avenue to see both virtue and truth thoughout history. Dr. Christopher Perrin in An Introduction to Classical Education says it this way, "Character has always been the chief goal of classical education. Christian educators have historically emphasized that education and study is a part of Christian discipleship--an expression of loving God with all our heart, mind and strength". Christian, classical educators seek to teach students how God is supreme over all creation; He is found in all subjects. "Classical educators are seeking to help recover the Christian mind and prepare extraordinarily-equipped leaders who 'can take every thought captive for Christ' and shape and lead the cultureal institutions of our society."

Lastly, learning is not compartmentalized, but intertwined and integrated thoughout subjects and grades. Dr. Perrin states,

Knowledge is more like a web than a chest of drawers; there are no subjects that are unrelated to others. Literature, history and theology for example are quite intertwined. Anything from the past (in any subject) can be history; anything committed to creative or excellent writing can be literature; and any subject considered in relation to God and biblical teaching can be theology. Until the 19th century, educators understood and taught knowledge as a web, rather than as separate departments. Classical educators, therefore, while teaching classes in "history" or "literature" keep the boundaries light and fluid and empahsize their inter-relationship of all knowledge.

I hope that you have found this discussion helpful in understanding classical education. As more and more educators seek to recover the master tools of classical education, I look forward to seeing the resurgence of great minds and writers in the upcoming generations. Perrin states, "We have tasted something old, becoming new again; we have an inkling of a profoundly better mind and spirit, a continuing conversation with great minds, with each other, with God himself."

Reflections On A Recent Stay In The Hospital With My Baby

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

Thursday afternoon I took my baby girl, Mya, into the clinic when she was excessively sleepy and difficult to arouse. She started to have periods of extreme colic followed by sleepiness so we were sent to the peds ER for workup of possible intussusception (a portion of the bowel telescoping into another portion). After many tests and even more waiting, she was diagnosed and treated. We just returned home this afternoon after 48 hrs in the ER/hospital. She did great and is catching up on sleep after her hard last couple of days. Here are 12 things I was reminded of from this experience:

1. These things inevitably happen when Zach is out of town.
2. Mother's intuition is a gift from God. We need to follow it and be an advocate for our children even when people think we are a little crazy.
3. Compassion and thoughtfulness, even in little ways, make a huge difference, especially when facing the unknown.
4. Listening and carefully worded questions are essential skills in the medical profession!
   
5. Pediatric ER nurses are amazing at starting IV's with very little veins.
6. ER's are not very comfortable and it innately takes forever to get things done. Time goes by much slower as a patient than as a medical professional.
7. I am so thankful for modern medicine and people who dedicate their lives to being the best at what they do.
8. Hospitals are not great places to actually sleep.
9. Intussusception is a hard word to spell.
10. Mya draws people to herself even when she is sick; her sweet, interactive personality can trick people into thinking she is not as sick as she really is.
11. God provides in amazing ways through His people. They are family and provide support, encouragement, help, and prayer.
12. It is extremely difficult to watch your child suffer or be in pain. God provides strength when there is none.

What stands out more than all of these is the fact that God is faithful. He answers prayer in His timing and according to His will. Trusting in His sovereignty and goodness offers strength, encouragement, and comfort. He is MOST WORTHY of praise!

Thanks To Guest Bloggers!

A huge thanks to my great friends who filled in for me while I was at Worship God 09. I thought they did a great job with some really interesting and thought provoking posts. You can check out their blogs below to continue to track what is going on in their worlds.

Michael Kelley
Scott Sterner
Jason Kovacs
Doug Wolter
Carlos Griego
Kim Nielsen (no blog)

What is Classical Education?

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

Both receiving a good education in the public schools, Zach and I never thought we would make any other choice for our own kids. Then we started to move to other parts of the country and hear murmurings from friends sending their kids to private schools and even homeschooling (this was just plain wierd when we were kids). It was from this homeschooling community that we were first introduced to the term "Classical Education". After reading my first booklet, I was intrigued. After our experience with a classical school in Albuquerque called Oak Grove Classical Academy (a much longer story than we have time for here), we were hooked. There was no turning back. I fell in love with this age-old method of education and wanted nothing less for our children (and also for myself).

After moving to Madison, WI, where the public school system is great, we decided that we would continue to pursue classical education for our kids by homeschooling. This past year, we have enjoyed our time but couldn't shake the idea of founding a school similar to Oak Grove in Madison. Long-term, we could think of no better option for our kids. And so Charis Classical Academy is in the birthing process. Why? What is "Classical Education"? What is the big deal? Why put in all the effort of starting a school? Although, there are four distinctive elements to Charis: gospel-centered, classical, University-Model®, and joyful discovery, classical education is really where most of the questions come. So, I thought over the next couple of posts, I'd introduce you to what classical education is about.

In An Introduction to Classical Education: A Guide for Parents by Dr. Christopher A. Perin he says,

Classical education is a long tradition of asking questions and digging up answers, consulting others, then asking, seeking, and finding once more. It is joining, as one writer puts it, the "Great Conversation." That means reading great books (the classics), studying them, mining them, talking to others about the influential ideas they contain. Whatever else classical education is, it is an ongoing series of questions and answers.

So, while there is much more to say on classical education, I am looking forward to journeying together this week into this "Great Conversation". We will be seeking what this method of education is all about and the kind of men and women it produces.

Classical Education: The Trivium

Guest post by Kim Nielsen


Today we will continue our discussion of classical education, more specifically the Trivium. The Trivium is the master tools through which a child is taught the art of learning. Latin for "three roads", the trivium is a three-phase model that also corresponds to the strengths of a child's natural development.

Grammar/Poll-parrot Stage (K-5/6th grade): Students focus on fundamental information, grammar and vocabulary. Memorization by means of singing and chanting comes naturally and when combined with direct instruction, reading and discussion, this stage provides the "pegs" to be further developed in the later stages.
Logic/Dialectic/Pert Stage (6th-9th grade): Students start to critically analyze and interpret the facts that were memorized during the grammar phase. Means of reasoning, debate and discussion fuel the dedicated study of logic during this developmental stage where students naturally ask "how", "why", and love to argue and debate.
Rhetoric/Poetic Stage (10th-12th grade): Students are taught to communicate clearly, eloquently, and persuasively. It comes at a time when they are interested in creative thinking and expression and are equipped to enter the "Great Conversation" by reading and responding to original classical works.

Dr. Christopher Perrin in An Introduction to Classical Education sums up the Trivium well,

I hope you will find it refreshing to discover that the method of classical education is simple yet profound, like so many great ideas from the wheel to the umbrella. Its basic philosophy is to teach children in the ways they naturally want to be taught, despite not always knowing it. Put another way, classical educators teach children what they want to know when they want to know it. When children are astonished with the human tongue, we teach them language and grammar. When children are ready to challenge every assumption, we teach them logic. When students are yearning to express themselves with passion, we teach them rhetoric...To be clear then, the words grammar, logic, and rhetoric have a range of meaning. These words can refer to self-contained subjects or they can refer to a method or art ("tools") of learning all subjects. Finally, they can be used to describe three developmental stages through which children progress.

With these "master tools" students are equipped for a life of loving to learn. Perrin uses the proverb: give a man a fish and he eats a meal; teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime. He writes, "We teach students how to fish, only they are fishing for knowledge and feeding their minds. The pole, the line, the hook are grammar, logic, and rhetoric, always with them in their tackle box as they seek for wisdom, and eventually teach others.

Thanks To Guest Bloggers

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to my guest bloggers from last week.  They did a great job, eh?  You should have them all in your RSS feed or bookmarks list.  I am blessed to have so many gifted people in my life who point me (and us) to the truth.  Here was the list if you missed it last time.

Doug Wolter

Chris Brauns

Carlos Griego

My "smokin' hot wife", Kim Nielsen

Brad Andrews

Adam Jeske

Dave Dorr

Parenting and Teaching Our Children In Grace

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

This post Parenting and Teaching our Children in Grace by my friend, Ruth Simons, discusses an essential component of teaching and training our children. I couldn't think of a better completion to any discussion on education than by focusing on grace.

Grace-filled parenting is gospel-centered parenting. God dealt grace to us on the Cross. Grace-filled parenting is modeling that grace in the way we train up our children, and in the substance of what we are training them with. Grace-filled parenting remembers that God forgave us, and patiently corrected us in our foolishness. Grace-filled parenting follows Christ’s example of love: based on His character, not how loveable we are. The highest goal of grace-filled, gospel-centered parenting, is to lead our children to true repentance, salvation, and a fervent love for the Lord.

Read the rest here.

Introducing Guest Bloggers for Next Week

Next week my oldest son and I will be joining a group of other fathers and sons for a week together in the Black Hills.  Should be an amazing time of connection, playing, learning, and spazing.

While I'm gone the blog will be held down by a great group of guest bloggers.  Click on their links to learn more about them.

Doug Wolter

Chris Brauns

Carlos Griego

My "smokin' hot wife", Kim Nielsen

Brad Andrews

Adam Jeske

Dave Dorr

See you when I get back!

Perfectionism: aka "fear of man"

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

So when Zach first asked me to a be guest blogger, I was thinking one post. No big deal; I should be able to think of one thing during the week. After hearing that it would be something every day and also seeing who else was on the blog role (I really do look up to each of these men!), I reconsidered my quick response of "sure" to my husband. I tried to think of all the reasons not to do it:

1. I'll be too busy.
2. I'm am engrossed all day with 4 small children and am more often answering questions like, "what's the tallest mountain?, do you think this is a dinosaur fossil?", "can we have a snack?" than delving into deep theological issues that so often show up on this blog.
3. I'm really quite computer illiterate.
4. And not least of all, I am a perfectionist and it will take me far to long to actually post anything worth while.

As I was thinking through all of my excuses, I realized what I have in the past called "perfectionism", "striving for excellence", "serving within one's giftedness", is often just the ugly head of "fear of man". I am far too concerned with how I will come across, will others approve of me, will I measure up?

We recently finished Ed Welch's book, "When People are Big and God is Small" in our home group. While, it obviously didn't solve my problem with the fear of man, it has at least made me realize how often I struggle with it and remind me where I need to turn my thoughts. So finding myself once again in this familiar place, I thought I would just share the battle with you.

The best way for me to offset fear of man is to concentrate on the All-Surpassing Supremacy of Christ. Here are 2 passages that come to mind that remind me that life is not about me. When I meditate on who Christ actually is, I naturally forget about myself, am freed from my need of others' approval and am left in awe of Him.
1. Philippians 3:7-14

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. ¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I count everything loss (even blog posts and the approval of others) compared to the surpassing greatness of Christ!

2. Job 38-42
I love this! God questions Job (and me), "where you there when I laid the foundation of the earth?" "have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place?"

When meditating on the greatness of God, I am humbled. But I am also freed of my fear of man. It is not man whom I should fear, but God (who not only has a voice like thunder but also loves me and gave himself for me). I hope that you too can take some time and meditate on Christ's Supremacy. Who knows you may find yourself freed to do something crazy (like guest blogging :))!

Hospitality

Guest post by Kim Nielsen

Yesterday, I talked about the fear of man. Sometimes the fear of man can cause us to be disobedient to what God calls us to as believers. We have a myriad of excuses and are very sophisticated so we fool ourselves into thinking we are not actually being disobedient. We need to focus on the joy of obedience and knowing that God always equips us where he calls us. I love my husband's mantra, "Fear none (except God), serve all". One way we can serve others is through hospitality. Here is a post from Nicole Whitacre, on the girltalk blog, on God's commandment to be hospitable.

“When most Christians hear about their responsibility to practice hospitality, they can think up an amazing number of creative excuses to explain why they cannot be hospitable. Yet Christians are commanded to be hospitable.” Alexander Strauch

Our budget is too tight.
Our home is too small.
We don’t have a couch.
We don’t have a dishwasher.
The painter’s plastic hanging in the middle of our living room isn’t very attractive.
I’m not good at this.
It’s been a long week and I’m tired.

I’ve used all of these excuses to apply for hospitality exemptions. But Scripture has denied all my claims. The Bible is clear about who is to show hospitality: all Christians. By God’s grace, that includes me.

All Christians--not just the rich, or the creative, or the organized, or the gourmet cooks, or the outgoing personalities or the ones with lots of free time. All Christians.

Read the whole thing here.

One Of The Many Reasons I Love My Wife

She is not afraid to take radical kingdom risks.

When we were still dating, myself and my roommate Matt Reisetter organized a fundraising campaign to take 40 college guys out to Washington D.C. for the Promise Keepers "Stand in the Gap" event. As a first year medical student, Kim gave more sacrificially than almost anyone else.

When we were engaged Kim felt that God was calling her to drop out of medical school. I supported this as well. Her parents thought she was nuts. (They don't anymore.) It has proven over and over again to have been the right decision for our family.

About six years into our marriage I felt that we needed to make a change in our lives. I was ready to attempt to break into the Christian music industry in Nashville. This probably would mean that we would have to live some version of the starving artist lifestyle while having an 18 month old and one on the way. My wife believed God was in this and was joyfully willing to take this leap of faith with me. We were hardly starving, but it was very hard, yet we wouldn't trade those two years of our lives for anything.

After two years in Nashville we knew it was time to be done with our experience there. I got an email from a pastor in Albuquerque, wondering if I would be interested in talking to him about their church's worship leader position. I think I had forgotten that New Mexico was still a state, but I said "Sure, I'll talk to you about that job". We talked quite a bit and it was clear we were supposed to move to ABQ. Again, she joyfully and fully trusted that I knew this was best for our family and jumped head first into this new southwestern adventure with me.

Today we are having our fourth child. A beautiful black baby girl named Mya Josephine Nielsen. As I type this I am trying to hold myself together (sitting in a hotel lobby eating breakfast with a high school football team from Alabama is not the best place to break down) as I am so thankful for a wife who is willing to lay down her life for those among us who are "the least of these".

Kim, I love you. Thanks for being such an inspiration of faith for me.

An Introduction of My Guest Bloggers For The Rest of This Week

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving to attend the Worship God Conference at Covenant Life Church in Maryland. I thought it would be a good time to step away from the blog. In my absence I have asked some of my best blogging friends to take over for a few days. I wanted to take a full post to introduce them to you and thank them in advance for their work here to keep the Vitamin Z rolling. As you read below, check out their links. All of them have been greatly blessed by the Lord and I know they will provide much grace-filled insight for the rest of the week.

Michael Kelley - Michael is a very gifted person. As evidenced by the picture above, he recently tried out for the 2009 television remake of "Chips". It didn't work out so well so he decided to guest blog here.

Michael is an extremely talented Bible teacher and communicator. He speaks to various different groups throughout the year in many different places and settings. Michael and I met each other in when we lived in Nashville and have remained friends since. He currently works for Threads, the young adult initiative of Lifeway Christian Resources, where he is the editor for Bible studies for young adults. He has two beautiful children and is married to Jana.



Carlos Griego - Carlos is the college and young adult minister at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, NM where I serve as well. He is passionate about the gospel, loves to teach the Bible, is a great Dad and likes to watch UFC and New Mexico Lobo basketball. He hopes to be a church planter one day and from what I know of him, he will do very well in that role.

Jason Kovacs - Jason works for The ABBA Fund and blogs here. He was instrumental in helping us bring Mya home. He has a passion to see the church rise up for the sake of orphan care. He and his wife Shawnda recently returned home from Uganda with their newly adopted son. Jason is a great man of God and we have much to learn from him. I have never actually met the guy in person, but we have logged some good time on the phone and email!

Scott Sterner - Scott is the Pastor of Operations and Arts Ministry at Parkview Church in Iowa City, IA where I worked for five years before we moved to Nashville. Scott was my boss at Parkview and remains a dear friend. In May of 2010, he will be one of my church planting partners in Madison, WI. He currently is studying at Covenant Theological Seminary through their ACCESS program towards a Masters in Theological Studies. He is married to Carrie and they have five beautiful children.

Kim Nielsen - My wife. Queen of hotness. Superstar Mom. Gracious in word and deed. Wicked smart. I could go on and on. She would be a rockstar in the blogsphere if she wanted to. Perhaps this week she'll give you a glimpse into her genius.

Thanks to Z

Guest Post By Los

I would like to thank Zach for inviting me to be one of his guest bloggers this past week. Zach and his awesome family left the 505 (New Mexico) last week to go plant a church in Madison, Wisconsin. Zach has been a dude that has very much shaped a lot of the ways I think about life. From starting to listen to jazz, reading blogs to stuff that really matters, like how I love my wife and kids and how I think through training up leaders. I appreciate Zach’s wisdom, bluntness and the gospel care he has for those around him. My wife Lauren, has also learned much and benefited much from the friendship she had with Zach's wife, Kim.

While we are stoked and crazy excited for what Jesus is going to do through the Nielsens in Madison, we are bummed to see this family go. One of the final lessons I think I learned from Zach was that church planting, and seeing a vision to reach those who have not tasted and seen the goodness of our Lord, means pain and sacrifice. I learned that as we had to say goodbye to these dear friends. As we begin to follow in similar footsteps, granted Rio Rancho, New Mexico, is only 10 miles away from where we are now, we will take many lessons we have heard and seen from Zach and Kim along with us.

Zach, you are off to plant gospel seeds throughout Madison, don’t be surprised to hear that Jesus is growing much of what you planted back here in Albuquerque! We really are going to, and do miss you guys!

The picture below is from a Halloween where we headed to the Nielsen’s to hand out hot cider, hot chocolate and candy to neighbors.



Also, if you haven’t already, check out The Vine church, and maybe throw a little support to this church plant that Z, Scott and Nate are starting.

Emery Lewis Nielsen

The Trilogy of children is now complete. Trifecta, trinity, trilectical tension, triceratops, triple threat position... all that to say we now have three kids.

Emery was welcomed into this world yesterday at 2:02 pm. We were scheduled for a c-section. We got to the hospital at around 1pm and he was born an hour later. Our OB was not messing around. It was the fastest thing I have ever seen. I would rather have that than waiting around all day.

Here are the specs:
-6 lbs 11 oz
-20 inches
-We thought the hair was red, it's not, it's blonde like his siblings
-Wicked cone head

Kim is doing well and since this is her 3rd c-section she really knows what to expect. God has been so good to us to provide three beautiful children.