ECCA Philosophy of Education

 

The philosophy that undergirds Eagle Classical Christian Academy is threefold. It is Christian at its core, but also ascribes to the classical method of education, and attends to the kingdom responsibilities that God requires of us.

 

Eagle

Both the Bible and American heritage utilize the eagle as an important symbol of bravery, dignity, and victory. These are characteristics that we would like to model and ultimately develop in our students.  According to the prophet Isaiah, “God has caused us to soar on wings as eagles” (Isa. 40:31). He has already given us the victory in all situations (1 Corinthians 15:57).  The eagle became a part of the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, shortly after the new nation was born.  Since ancient times, the eagle has been considered a sign of strength. 

 

How will our students develop these characteristics?  First of all, they will be taught the founding principles of the Bible, God’s word, from the start of their education at ECCA.  They will also be taught about the history of our country, including the faith our founding fathers possessed and the tenets of freedom which they penned.  They will be taught the substance of our country’s founding documents and examine to what degree they overlap with or reinforce biblical principles.  They will also determine where they diverge or stray from God’s intentions for men and women.  Students will learn how to apply these truths to the present world and culture.  Students will determine how to be salt and light in their communities, their state, and their world.  They will become biblical citizens.

 

Classical 

Plato proposed in The Republic that there were seven main areas of study that would fully equip a free, well-educated citizen and leader.  Learning in these areas did not only fill one's mind with all of the essential knowledge but would also equip the individual to tackle any type of undertaking by training in the basics of how to learn and grow into mature thought.  These were the foundations of the liberal arts. The first three of these disciplines encompass the Trivium.  They are grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Eagle Classical Christian Academy seeks to guide the student from kindergarten through high school graduation by attending to these time-tested stages of development.  The pedagogical methods and curricula incorporate classical methods to foster student creativity, innovation, and collaboration across disciplines, which pave the way for their academic success.

 

In the grammar stage, corresponding to elementary age, we provide students with the foundations of the disciplines.  Skills such as handwriting, grammar, spelling, and math are practiced and mastered.  Basic knowledge in history, science, the arts, literature, and theology will be provided.  Students are taught the foundation of our language and culture through the study of Latin.  Christian virtues are demonstrated and recitation of great works are included, both of literature and scripture.  

 

In the logic stage, corresponding to middle school age, students are shown how to combine the building blocks of knowledge by incorporating logical argumentation.  This provides the bridge between language and the study of math, philosophy, and science.  Students delve even deeper into the canonized texts of Western civilization, including both primary and secondary sources. 

 

In the rhetoric stage, corresponding to high school age, students learn the art of persuasion.  Students are required to complete an inquiry-based research project, grounded in their scholarly interests under the supervision of a faculty mentor. To this end, they develop, write and defend a senior thesis prior to graduation. Students are taught to appreciate the arts by exposure and immersion, and analyze works for their expression of truth, goodness, and beauty.  By this stage, students are equipped to pursue higher education, a vocation, or any other path of their choosing. 

 

Christian

We believe that each child is formed in God’s image from the moment of conception (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16).  We believe children are born with the potential to learn every subject and improve in every area.  We believe God has an individual plan, calling, and assignment for each child for they are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).  God’s Spirit is fully able to train and lead each child as he or she learns and grows in the word of God (John 14:26).  Therefore, children will be taught biblical truths as soon as they can comprehend them, through reading, writing, recitation, and confession.  The Bible is essential in training children and correcting them in righteousness and truth (II Tim 3:16).  We believe that the children who attend our school will therefore be transformed into God’s likeness through the renewing of their minds by the word of God (Rom 12:2) and they would not be conformed to the pattern of this world.   

 

ECCA invests in its instructors, supporting their spiritual development, so that our teachers may nurture our students along their paths of development.  We believe that spiritual formation happens along several different paths of instruction, investment, and imitation which translate to learning, doing, and modeling.  Therefore, we incorporate all of these methods, in concert with our students’ families, to bring about well-rounded disciples of Christ.  

 

We believe prayer and worship is central in all we do.  As we invite God into our learning environment daily, we give Him free reign to teach us and guide us as He desires.  This allows revelation to flow through our teaching and learning.  This produces lives of devotion for each of our students as they seek a personal relationship with Christ that will last them beyond graduation.  Our students come to learn math, science, history, arts, and language as uniquely created by God, for His purposes.   

 

Academy

The term academy extends and connects to Plato’s original Academy which emerged as a school of rhetoric during the Golden Age of Athens.  Plato’s Academy was situated outside of the city and served as a site for exploration, rest, and leisurely pursuit of virtue and morality alongside rigorous study. In the same way, our academy provides a place of refuge for today’s students, who are in desperate need of a secure and stable moral compass that nurtures the whole child–spirit, soul, and body.  

 

Approved as of 1-22-25