Why Ascent Classical™ Academy?
Ascent’s dedication to Wonder is one of our distinct characteristics. We aim to preserve a love of learning that will last a lifetime. We all know the joy a child experiences when acquiring a new skill or learning a new song. We see in them what we know is true: learning is delightful! Being filled with wonder at the beautiful world we live in is exhilarating.
Our desire is that wonder guides your student’s educational journey. We intentionally build our school culture to support this love and joy of learning by hiring teachers who are not just content experts, but who nurture your child’s sense of wonder. Our staff care for the well-being and development of our students as complete human beings, taking time to speak to the heart as well as to the mind. We allow them the space and time in the classroom to wonder at all that is good and beautiful in the world. As they question, “wonder”, and make these connections, their education becomes their own. By cultivating a sense of wonder and inspiring our students to love learning, Ascent’s education prepares your child to be truly happy and fulfilled.
The Purposes of Classical Education
Classical schools are unique among school choice options for three main reasons – a high or noble purpose, a content-rich curriculum, and a traditional classroom environment. A classical school seeks to foster two things, individual happiness and a healthy regime.
Happiness is understood to be rooted in the virtuous use of our highest faculty, reason, and therefore entails participation in civil conversation. But what kind of conversation is this? Classical education does not teach students to banter or score a point in conversation as if it were a boxing match. Rather, it seeks the best kind of conversation, the one that asks what is good for a human being?, what is beautiful?, and how should I live my life? This requires not only a deep familiarity with our history and literature, but roots in the rigor of mathematics and science.
Classical education, then, is liberal education, or an education befitting a free human being. A healthy regime for us is a republic with historically-rooted, cultured, and responsible citizens.
A Content-Rich Curriculum
A classical education delivers real content. Students learn about historical events, characters, stories, fables, myths, scientific facts, and mathematical proofs. They read whole books in great depth, and learn to approach books both with moderation to learn and courage to question.
A republic is best served when its citizens can formulate historically-rooted opinions, draw upon powerful myths, stories, allegories, and tales, and understand the basic workings of the natural world. Together, these abilities sustain the best kind of conversation and elevate the tenor of our common life.
A Traditional Classroom
A classical classroom prioritizes the authority of the teacher, and therewith his or her expertise and responsibility to deliver it to students. Students are not the passive recipients of knowledge, but active participants in the discussion. This disciplined and orderly environment facilitates attention, focus, and engagement.