Gary North

Feb. 10, 2011

Classical education dismissed business. The Greeks believed that commerce was almost as bad as manual labor. This attitude is reflected in the classical curriculum. It is also reflected in the history of education until about 1870, when a newer, more openly political humanism took over in the colleges.

Each child is different. Children have different skills. The older they get, the more pronounced these skills become. There is a division of labor in life, as Paul wrote in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12. The church is a body. (This is a metaphor.) This is why a joint effort is required to construct a Christian curriculum.

By the time they reach high school, they are ready for specialization. So, a Christian curriculum needs four tracks: social science/humanities, math/science, fine arts, and home business.

Every high school student should be introduced to these courses:

Bible (four years)

Western civilization history

United States history (in the United States: other nations need their own)

U.S. Constitution: history and analysis

Algebra and geometry

Economics

Two science courses

Creationism vs. Darwininsm: science, philosophy, politics, arts

Three years of literature (integrated with history)

There must be two-year courses in Western Civ, U.S. history, and economics. There must be a one-year course in local government. There must be advanced math and science. There must be courses in home business, including advertising (rhetoric). There must be art history and music.

One size does not fit all.

Here is my proposed program: http://www.freechristiancurriculum.com/CurriculumTracks.pdf

It is missing fine arts. That is my weakness. I do not know how to design this track. But I know that it is necessary.