Academics
"What if education wasn't first and foremost about what we know, but about what we love?” – James K.A. Smith
What is education for? Is it to grow in knowledge; to gain useful skills and eventually get a job; to have enjoyable experiences; to find the answers to our questions? True education does all of these things, but it is ultimately about something deeper. A Christian vision of education must serve those ends to which all Christians are called: to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Oakland Classical Christian School exists in order to guide students in these loves. Our academic program is thoughtfully crafted to speak to the whole person, guiding students in lives of love, service, wonder, and excellence.
Curriculum
At Oakland Classical Christian School, the curriculum is designed to shape children's bodies, hearts, minds, and relationships toward flourishing. It is a "full-orbed education," aimed at "cultivating fully integrated human beings." The goal of this education is students whose knowledge and reasoning is strong, whose bodies are healthy, "whose knowledge of the world, man, and God fit harmoniously within a distinctly Christian philosophy; and whose lives are informed and governed by a theology forged from the revelation of God in Christ Jesus as it has been handed down through the Church in historic Christianity."*
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Practically, this means that the curriculum includes exceptional and age-appropriate instruction in math, science, history, civics, philosophy, and theology. A cornerstone of the curriculum, as with most classical schools, is a liberal arts education, which is founded on a thoughtful and expansive selection of the Great Books. Instruction in the arts and physical movement are central components. Nature provides an endless curriculum for all ages, and the maximum time possible is spent outside.
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At the younger grades, tactile and outdoor learning are prioritized. The goal here is not only to work with the natural strengths of young children, but also to use these experiences to encourage the development of wonder and shape students' affections toward the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. As students get older, studying topics of greater complexity, reading primary sources, learning to reason well, and integrating topics from different disciplines take an increasingly prominent role in their education.​
Instruction
It has been said that the teacher is the curriculum in a classical school. Excellent learning happens with excellent teaching. Growth in virtue happens best when observing and mimicking virtuous people. These are some of the reasons why we seek the best teachers for Oakland Classical Christian School and invest in their success.
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Children (and their parents) need to explore, experiment, and experience in order to learn well. At the same time, they (and we) need direction, expertise, and explanations. The instruction at Oakland Classical Christian School thus joins "discovery and demonstration."*
School Culture
"Inevitably, the culture of the school educates as much as its curriculum."* The culture at Oakland Classical Christian School starts with the leadership and teachers, who model loving interactions with one another and with students. Culture is further formed through daily rhythms of prayer, study, and time outside. Corporate Christian practices, such as participation in morning prayer liturgy, set the tone for each day. We also have high expectations for how students will treat one another and adults, and we approach discipline with both grace and firmness.
To Learn More
To dig further into these topics, we recommend the book The Liberal Arts Tradition by Dr. Kevin Clark and Ravi Scott Jain. You can find it at this link or other booksellers.
