“The Government of Souls is the art of arts.” ~ st. Gregory the Great
Education is Discipleship.
It is an idea so universally believed that it is hard to see, because it seems to be the way the world has always worked—education is, more or less, a product, a consumer-good. The notion that every educator is bound to mentor his students into better people than they are today strikes us as odd.
But for millennia, education has meant discipleship. Still today, everyone’s favorite teachers and coaches are those who disciple—who teach their students to be more virtuous. These people get mentioned at dinners and receptions, and movies are sometimes made about them. But they are not the most important mentors for their students; students’ parents are.
Whether they take on the mantle of mentorship or not, parents have more influence over the bodies and souls of their children than anyone else. King Alfred Classical exists to help parents raise up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Experienced Parents Mentoring New Parents.
At King Alfred Classical, every week parents, especially mothers, build each other up as companions in the journey of homeschooling. This happens informally during lunchtime and casual conversations, but we also have dedicated time each week for every parent to participate in a small group discussion of an important text.
These discussions are led by an veteran mother who prioritizes real education for both parents and children. After all, students will grow up into their parents, or, as Joshua Gibbs—a writer that we appreciate at King Alfred Classical—says, “Your students will become like you; so you must become like God.”
Parents also become better parents by helping our faculty to teach students. The Latin expression docendō discimus (by teaching, we learn) is true for parents too.
Student Programs
Our faculty and parents lead our four student programs on Thursdays and Mondays.
Lower School Thursdays
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Young students (PreK–2nd) learn from 9:00 until 12:00, while older students (3rd–6th) also have lessons after lunch until 2:00. All students have lessons in Arithmetic, Recitation, English, Music, Art, Latin, Nature Study, and Physical Education. Lower School is mostly taught by parents with some classes taught by faculty.
Upper School Thursdays
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Older students (7th–12th) learn Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 until 2:00. They have lessons in Algebra, Geometry, Latin, Music, Art, Dialectics, English, and optional Shakespearean Theater and Speech & Debate. These classes are mostly taught by teachers, though some are led by parents.
Shakespearean Theater and Rhetoric
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In the Fall, Upper School students may choose to participate in a rhetoric class—similar to a speech & debate class. In the Spring, King Alfred Classical offers on a class through a Shakespearean play, culminating in a performance. These classes are for King Alfred Classical students.
Nature Walks and English Country Dances
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In addition to classes, we offer nNature Walks and English Country Dances throughout the school year for our families.