Cheryl Swope writes in Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child an excellent introduction to the concept of classical education stating, “Begun in ancient Greece, classical education inclines students toward Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. When Socrates questioned students, he did so for one purpose-to lead them to truth. Over two thousand years later, the Socratic method remains an essential element of classical education. Plato, a student of Socrates, contemplated ideas that exist apart from man’s experience. Today, classically educated students learn to be comfortable in the realm of ideas. Classical education upholds the idea of absolute truth. Aristotle, a student of Plato and son of a physician, wrote treatises on physical observations and classifications such as those used in zoology. Classical education teaches students to observe and appreciate the patterns, classifications, and order in the world around them. Aristotle expounded on matters of poetry and logic. His philosophy and treatise on rhetoric are still in use today.
Classical education today finds its roots in the greatest teachers and philosophers of all time. Ancient Greeks prized wisdom and beauty. Ancient Romans, such as Cicero and Quintilian, emphasized the cultivation of great statesmen and orators. In the Middle ages and beyond, scholars treasured, preserved, and built upon this solid foundation. Classical education respects and upholds this pedagogical tradition that formed and sustains Western civilization.”