Why Classical Education Works Part 2: Humans are not Machines

“The glory of God is a man fully alive.” St. Irenaeus

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.” C.S. Lewis

One of the first and foundational reasons that classical Christian education works is that it adopts the view children (and people) provided by the Scriptures: i.e., it looks at people as eternal being made in the image of God.

The importance of this commitment cannot be overestimated. It is the starting point of every conversation, interaction, and lesson. Because of this classical education treats students like growing, organic, spiritual beings. This means that we are not just stuffing facts into the mind or preparing students for career or success. We want them to be whole and full. Classical Christian schools are encouraging their students on toward full humanity—full humanity that looks like Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many schools ignore this view today and really end up treating children like machines. I am writing this post on my Mac Book Air. It is a glorious (and beloved) machine. Yet, it cannot think. It cannot argue. It cannot persuade. Too often in our culture, we treat people as if they are simply machines training for processes but not stirring the heart or engaging the mind in the skill of argumentation and communication. Most schools train our children like slaves—not for thought or freedom, but for function.

The damage that this mechanistic view causes damages children—and its getting worse. Today, we too often see school violence and hopeless despair in the young. Why? Sadly, they are learning the lesson that our culture is teaching! We have told them that they are accidents (through naturalistic evolution) and that the only mortality and purpose in the world what they themselves create (which of course means that there is no purpose or meaning!). They are smart enough to figure it out. Today, with our culture constantly whispering these lies it is critical to give our children an education that helps them know themselves as glorious (though fallen) images of God.

The end goal for classical Christian education: a fully formed man and woman. In our next post we will see how classical Christian education uses the Seven Liberal Arts to encourage full humanity.