Classical Approach

The classical method of education is a three-stage approach to instruction with the goal of producing graduates who have mastered the art of learning so that they may skillfully acquire and apply knowledge, reason critically and articulate persuasively. Sometimes referred to as the Trivium (Latin for “three ways”), this approach consists of the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages, each building upon its predecessor. Basic factual content and rules - the “grammar”- of any given subject must first be mastered; then, an understanding of how to apply the facts - the “logic”- must be discerned; and finally, the ability to synthesize the foregoing into an articulate argument - the “rhetoric”- must be developed. The Biblical equivalent to this progression is found in the imperative to pursue knowledge, understanding and wisdom.