Classical Method Part 2

Logic

The Logic Stage is exactly as it sounds, about logic! This stage begins with Fifth and finishes with Eighth Grade. During this stage of development, the young mind can now take the facts that they have learned and start using the rules of logic to make deductions, answer questions, and dissect facts. The logical child now starts to question the facts that he or she has learned. For instance, why did the Egyptian Empire fade away? Why did the Egyptians build pyramids? This is a vast change from the Grammar stage where the child was merely taught: Who were the Egyptians? This is also the stage where formal logic is taught. Logic is about analysis of structure and validity of information. The skills of logical analysis build upon the foundation of facts learned in the Grammar Stage. Although the child is still in the elementary stages of analysis, again, the beauty of Classical Education is the systematic and methodical building of a completed K-12 education, so the child is being taught to think logically a piece at a time to further prepare them for his or her next developmental progression into the ability to create arguments based on facts and logic: The Rhetoric Stage.

Rhetoric

It is absurd to hold that a man should be ashamed of the inability to defend himself with his limbs, but not ashamed of an inability to defend himself with speech and reason; for the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.
~Aristotle, Rhetoric

The young adult has been taught the facts of life, the logical way to interpret them, and now will be taught how to use the gift of speech to present them. Typically this stage starts in Ninth Grade and ends with Twelfth Grade. This is when the young adult will start research, analysis, and presentation of information. All subjects will encompass this process. This stage of young adults life is marked by self-expression. As many know, the teenager is all a bustle about expressing his or herself in anyway possible. Aristotle goes on to say:

“…all men attempt to discuss statements and to maintain them, to defend themselves and to attack others. Ordinary people do this either at random, or through practice and from acquired habit.”

(Wise-Bauer, p. 452)

The Rhetoric Stage strives “to make success in speech a matter of skill and practice, not accident.” (Wise-Bauer, p. 452) The Rhetoric student will use all the skills gained up to this point to further master the ability to present ideas, facts, and studies of all subjects. This stage is about the finished product of a long study. Instead of simply learning about Da Vinci, or why he did what he did, the Rhetoric student will read, discuss, debate and present a complete study of this historical figure. The Rhetoric Stage not only completes the Trivium, but also prepares the child/young adult for partaking the Great Conversation.

The Great Conversation is the understanding, analyzing, and understanding of ideas of the past that have created the world we live in now. The goals of Odinist’s should include having our children a part of the Great Conversation. Do we not want our children to have a keen understanding of history, philosophy, and mathematics then to also be able to communicate these ideas appropriately through oral and written communication? Classical education provides the means to awaken the intelligence that resides within our children already. Furthermore, the Classical method considers the natural way children learn: systematically, slowly, and thoroughly.