This classical model makes no attempt to offer some new "fad" method or approach to cure illiteracy in America. There are no easy steps to improve math scores. Rather, children are required to apply their mind and good old-fashioned work to learn math drills, phonograms, and memorization of facts.
Classical education may conjur up thoughts of dusty old books irrelevant to the 21st century. But classical education appears to be an effective approach both in homeschooling and traditional school settings.
Doug Wilson's Contributions
Doug Wilson may very well be considered a "father" of the modern Protestant Classical Christian school movement, which began about 20 years ago. As the classical Christian schools have developed, classical homeschooling material has become more easily available.
Wilson has contributed to the movement of Classical homeschooling through his books, the Logos School, beginning the ACCS (Association of Classical Christian Schools) and his numerous speeches and published articles.
He has written books on classical schooling, and specifically, classical christian homeschooling. Two of the most important titles are, The Case for Classical Christian Education [Crossway Books, 2002] and Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning [Crossway Books, 1991]. For parents just setting out to learn about this homeschooling philosophy and methodology, it is recommended to start reading these two first.
Engaging in the "Great Conversation"
In Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, Wilson argues for teaching students to engage in what is termed "the great conversation." This means students are busy reading the Great Books of the Western Civilization. Through the Rhetoric stage, students become well versed in what are the great authors, and can articulate and debate with the giant past figures of history.
As G.K.Chesterton remarked, "anything worth doing is worth doing badly," may also hold true for classical homeschooling. More and more parents desire to give this type of education to their children but do not have the financial resources to send them to a private Classical school. Wilson is not correct – parents can give their children a quality education, even if they did not have a classical education themselves.
It is highly probably that most readers of Wilson's books will not agree with everything he says. He does not necessarily agree that even Classical Christian Homeschooling is as good as a traditional-style classical school. He may be basing this on many parents' own lack of classical education and knowledge of Direct Instruction and classical topics. Also, he is clearly a Reformed Covenant Theologian, which informs all his writing and can be annoying for those not agreeing with his theological application to education.
While Wilson's Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning does include helpful appendices such as Dorothy Sayers' article on the Trivium (a must read), a description of Logos School curriculum, the grandaddy of almost all Classical Christian Schools in America, and a history of education in America; this information is also available free online.
The Case for Classical Christian Education
Wilson's The Case for Classical Christian Education is helpful to understand the key problems with public school, according to Wilson. He does include a number of chapters on how to start a Classical Christian school which seem to be off topic and not fully developed, and irrelevant to what parents need to know. However, this book will make it clear why the classical approach to education is considered by classical educators as the best method for improving education today.
Wilson has been a force in the modern development of Classical homeschooling. Through Wilson's books, Logos School, and the ACCS, classical homeschooling has become more well known and possible for parents to implement. Due to his writings, others have picked up the slack and written more practical "how to's" on classical homeschooling.
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