Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, 12: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education

I read this two years ago when my husband and I started researching different education philosophies in preparation for homeschooling our children. We knew Wilson's writing from Credenda/Agenda and had liked his style of writing as well as his critical analysis. In this book he lays out the arguments against public schools pretty succinctly. I come from a long line of public school teachers and so it was intriguing to me to see it all from a different angle. I am a product of "government schools" and was shocked to realize that when he wrote this book, I was a senior in high school! What we don't see when we're in the middle of something! It has all become clearer.I appreciated the logic behind Wilson's arguments and must say that this book convinced me on the value of classical education and that it is the best way for my family to approach homeschooling.Wilson does say that a private, Christian Classical school is the best option and that homeschool takes second seat. I don't have any basis to weigh this statement; there is no school like that anywhere near our home. So, like another reviewer said, we will prepare against the downfalls of homeschooling that Wilson points out.This book is what I would hand to someone (ie my public school parents) to justify our decision to classically educate our children.

I first read this book as a sophomore in college. I got so excited about the idea of classical Christian education, that I resolved on my future career: teaching mathematics and physics at a classical Christian school. Mr. Wilson's comments about public school seem very accurate. They closely correspond with the few comments I have had from people who "survived" the public school. There seems to be a prevailing anti-intellectualism displayed amongst the graduates of the public schools. I especially enjoyed Mr. Wilson's critique of the "look-say" method. I have a friend who went through look-say, and to this day he cannot read out loud in anything like a natural manner. Mr. Wilson's book represents the close of the public school system, yet in contrast to purely sarcastic negative articles and books, Mr. Wilson has given us a solution. This solution makes so much sense. I have discussed the idea of classical education with other Christians. I tend to get two answers: either they are afraid of what the Greek philosophy will do to young Christians, or else they see what Mr. Wilson saw: that studying Greek philosophy is not to commend it, and that the primary purpose of doing so is to understand the world at the time of Christ. This will facilitate an understanding of the historical context of the Bible, which we are obviously commanded to study.I did have one criticism, however. In his argument that foreign children are out-performing American children, Mr. Wilson fails to realize that the statistics are incorrect. The samples that the scores from foreign countries represent are taken from the elite: the best from foreign countries, whereas the scores from American children represent a much wider sample. Thus any argument about averages will fail at this point. However, it is still valid to compare highest scores. I happen to agree with where Mr. Wilson was headed, but this argument is weak because of the mathematics.This criticism, however, is but a mild one, and it is the only one that I have. Other than this, the book is very tightly argued, and it is one of the clearest, best-written books I have ever read. Even if you do not agree with it, read it as a guide to writing!

This book is a fascinating elucidation of the reasons behind the academic and moral failure of the American public school system, and a call to arms for Christian parents to rise up and create a viable alternative to that system. Wilson's arguments are lucid and well-thought out, clearly showing how the public school system has failed to teach children how to think independently, while at the same time force-feeding them with an ever-increasing number of "facts" without context. He proposes a model ("Classical" Christian Education) that draws from the rich cultural heritage of Western Civilization, while still maintaining a distinctively Christian worldview. Crucial to that model is its grounding in the Classical "Trivium" (Grammar, Dialectic and Rhetoric) which he demonstrates is the foundation for learning in all other areas of study (which he lumps together as the "Quadrivium", going far beyond the classical definition of that term).

This book brings to light the errors in modern education, gives one a drive to learn more and to pass on true knowledge to their children. "Standing on the Promises" is another top choice! Wilson writes in an easy to read manner and keeps interest at its peak throughout. I could not recommend any books on the subject more highly.