Why Students Should Read The Classics

Why Students Should Read The Classics

Thursday, 20 August 2020 19:48

This has been one of the most challenging years for parents in a long time. Schools throughout the country are struggling to navigate their state and county requirements for providing remote and in-person instruction. Many districts have opted to use a combination of in-person and remote learning. All of the options for public schools have been difficult and, at times, quite frustrating for parents and students. 

We are grateful and excited to offer in-person classes at St. Paul Lutheran School beginning August 26th. Our small class sizes help us practice safe distancing for our students and teachers. We are committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for students, taking every precaution we can to protect each child, teacher, and staff member. We will be quick to communicate any changes and have plans in place for flexibility. 

As we return to some semblance of normalcy, we are excited to do what we do best: provide an excellent academic experience in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. In this post, we are discussing literary classics and why they are vital to your child's education. 

 

What Are the Classics?

The classics are the important works of classical antiquity from the Greco-Roman world in the time period between approximately the 8th century B.C. and the 6th century A.D., as well as the literary masterpieces of the middle ages, renaissance, and beyond. These works are the cornerstone of the humanities and span the genres of myth and fiction to history and philosophy. When students read the classics, they interact with the ancient Greek and Latin words profoundly shape the English language, the ideas that have contributed to western civilization as we know it, and the best writing known to humanity.

Why Read the Classics?

Your student will benefit from reading the classics. A few of the key benefits include:

  • Developing a Command of Language: Your child's vocabulary and command of language will improve as they interact with masters of English, ancient Greek, and Latin.
  • Engaging in Worldview Conversations: Reading the classics will allow your child to interact with the prevailing worldviews of western civilizations. 
  • Understanding References: References to the classics are woven throughout literature, art, and even film. Your child will benefit from reading the origins of the thoughts and ideas that have prevailed through the centuries.
  • Understanding the Human Condition: The classics often peel back the layers of who we are. From philosophy to history, these works have endured in part because they help us understand humanity and why people make the choices they make for better and for worse.
  • Communicating the Gospel: Having a better understanding of humanity helps students communicate the good news of Jesus to the world around them. 

There are many more ways in which your child will benefit from reading the classics throughout their middle and high school years and beyond. 

Examples of Classics

There are many works that are considered classics. Here are a few examples:

  • The Illiad and the Oddesy | Homer - 8th Century B.C. 
  • The Histories | Herodotus - 430 B.C. 
  • Saint Augustine's Confessions | Augustine of Hippo - 4th Century 
  • Inferno | Dante Alighieri - 14th Century A.D.
  • The Canterbury Tales | Geoffrey Chaucer - 15th Century
  • The Pilgrim's Progress | John Bunyan - 17th Century
  • Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift | 18th Century
  • A Tale of Two Cities | Charles Dickens - 19th Century
  • To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee - 1960
  • Greek tragedies 
  • Works by Plato and other Greek and Roman Philosophers 

St. Paul Lutheran School's primary commitment is to lead individuals to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and to keep them in that faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the ways we accomplish this is by providing the highest quality academic experience possible while emphasizing that all truth is God's. If you would like to know more about our private Christian school in Northville, MI, please contact St. Paul Lutheran School. 

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