Philosophy & Approach

General Philosophy

Our philosophy of education elaborates our purpose.  Veritas Academy is a Christian school.  All of the academic disciplines, without exception, are taught from the perspectives of Christian truth, as understood by orthodox Protestantism in general, and Westminster Presbyterianism in particular.

Veritas Academy is a classical school.  By this we mean that it is classical in content and methodology.  The core of the curriculum is an integrated study of the humanities.  History is studied in depth and its time-line provides the structure to which we peg great and time-proven literature, music, and art.  Latin is required of all full-curriculum students beginning with the third grade level.  Methodologically we follow the classical trivium of grammar (with substantial memorization at the elementary school level), logic (learning to argue correctly in middle school), and rhetoric (emphasizing polished oral and written presentations in high school).

Veritas Academy is family-based.  Parental responsibility for the education of their children is recognized and will not be usurped.  Parental involvement is encouraged, indeed, required.  Consequently Veritas Academy at the Grammar Stage is a condensed-day school, requiring considerable at-home involvement by parents.  We are, in addition, a home-school friendly institution, seeking to assist home-schooling parents in the education of their children.  A majority of our classes are open to home-school students to plug-in on an as needed basis.

Of Kindergarten
We believe that the purpose of kindergarten is to introduce young children to the experience of going to school.  It is supplemental to the training, teaching and playtime they receive at home. Kindergarten offers a structured classroom environment for a limited duration in which five-year olds can learn basic math and phonics.  It is not intended to be an academically rigorous or demanding environment.  Additionally, the assessment of language and motor skills must be considered in the context of the individual child’s capabilities.  



   
Of Grammar School
The first stage of the Classical Trivium model is grammar.  This stage roughly corresponds to elementary grades.  Children at this age have not yet developed high reasoning skills. But they do have a wonderful facility for memorization.  Consequently, memorizing the “grammar” of each of the academic disciplines is emphasized: of math (numbers, addition, subtraction, division, multiplication) of language (letters, rules of grammar, vocabulary), of history (names, dates, places quotes).  

 Of Logic School    
The second stage of the Classic Trivium model is logic. This stage corresponds roughly to middle school.  At about this age children begin to argue about nearly everything. Consequently, at Veritas they are taught to reason properly. Formal logic is taught. The underlying reasons and relationship between the various facts of the academic disciplines are explored.  

    Of Rhetoric School
The final stage of the Classic Trivium model is rhetoric. Typically high schoolers are concerned with appearances. The Trivium builds on this natural inclination by teaching students how to speak and write with eloquence and grace. Students are taught how to communicate what they have learned in both oral and written forms.  

 

Approach

Our approach then flows from our philosophy.

Mornings are taken up with academic classroom work. This includes mathematics, language arts, Latin, history, and science.

Afternoons are devoted to home-based academic work, requiring considerable involvement of parents. Veritas Academy’s reading lists are robust and rooted in the classics. Our expectation is that since the afternoon is not being spent sitting in a classroom, a significant block of time will be committed to reading, homework, and other educational activities at home. 

Consequently, late afternoons and evenings are free for family-based activities and enrichment pursuits. Music lessons, athletics, ballet, scouting, and other such activities may be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace than would otherwise be possible as a result of our condensed day philosophy.

Thus, we combine the academic rigor of classical education with the family-focus emphasized by home-schoolers. We have learned from both approaches and are convinced that we can offer the best of both worlds. Veritas Academy provides excellent academic instruction by experienced teachers at the school as well as from parents who are their childrens' primary educators. Parents are expected to follow a disciplined program of daily Christian instruction and reading. 

Goals

Our goal is to educate students to be what the Reformed/Puritan tradition historically produced in conjunction with the family and church.  We desire our students to be:

• Disciples of Christ who love God and His word,
• Scholars who love to learn,
• Readers who love books,
• Leaders who love the family,
• Citizens who love their nation,
• Members of the Body of Christ who love the church, and
• Missionaries who love the lost.