As a Classical Conversations mom, I’ve been thinking about this very thing. I came to the same conclusion. It pains me to say it because I love so much about CC, but I may be done after Essentials. “If you are teaching children Latin, you are by necessity NOT teaching them something else.” So true, and CC dedicates an insane amount of time to Latin in the upper grades. Maybe it will be right for my daughter, but I know it’s not for my son. Thanks for your thoughts on this topic!
I looked into CC and it looked like truly a wonderful program. I had the same issue though that there wasn't nearly enough flexibility for my personal family to do the extras we wanted. I've often wished there was a "CC lite" that we could pick and choose some of the classes. If your kids have done the foundational courses, they already have a stellar background. I'm glad you found the post of value. It's something I've spent a lot of time thinking on.
Excellent, balanced answer! Not that I'm any expert, Latin wasn't something public schools offered, way back when, at least until high school. I do wish I had gotten exposed to it, at least for a semester. But it would make better sense to start Latin instruction at an early age.
I did end up taking four years of French, plus a semester in college, which has proven completely worthless for conversing with French people, but has helped a lot in reading and vocabulary. So one of the major arguments against Latin, that it's a dead language, may not matter much, unless you replace it with Spanish, a language Americans actually do get frequent opportunities to practice.
An important point I think you're making, though it's subtle, is that there's a lot more to a classical education than just Latin. Emphasizing the trivium is without question worthwhile, because it's so important to be able to think and then communicate. Mathematics is also essential; the rest of the quadrivium perhaps less so.
In our homeschool we put a great emphasis on reading, writing, math, and just developing a curiosity to keep learning. There are many other valuable subjects for which, like Latin, a strong argument can be made for teaching. But I would agree, regarding these secondary subjects, that it is a matter of making tradeoffs based on the teacher's available time and the student's particular aptitude or needs. There are only so many hours in the day!
The "faith tradition" happens to intersect with THE basis for partitioning history. Whether you call it Anno Domini or CE, why do we date things this way? Does it matter?
Consider the success and educational utility of immersive colonial Williamsburg.
As a Classical Conversations mom, I’ve been thinking about this very thing. I came to the same conclusion. It pains me to say it because I love so much about CC, but I may be done after Essentials. “If you are teaching children Latin, you are by necessity NOT teaching them something else.” So true, and CC dedicates an insane amount of time to Latin in the upper grades. Maybe it will be right for my daughter, but I know it’s not for my son. Thanks for your thoughts on this topic!
I looked into CC and it looked like truly a wonderful program. I had the same issue though that there wasn't nearly enough flexibility for my personal family to do the extras we wanted. I've often wished there was a "CC lite" that we could pick and choose some of the classes. If your kids have done the foundational courses, they already have a stellar background. I'm glad you found the post of value. It's something I've spent a lot of time thinking on.
Your time was well spent—I will share this with a couple other moms.
I would also join your afternoon history and science club in a heartbeat. Sounds absolutely lovely.
Excellent, balanced answer! Not that I'm any expert, Latin wasn't something public schools offered, way back when, at least until high school. I do wish I had gotten exposed to it, at least for a semester. But it would make better sense to start Latin instruction at an early age.
I did end up taking four years of French, plus a semester in college, which has proven completely worthless for conversing with French people, but has helped a lot in reading and vocabulary. So one of the major arguments against Latin, that it's a dead language, may not matter much, unless you replace it with Spanish, a language Americans actually do get frequent opportunities to practice.
An important point I think you're making, though it's subtle, is that there's a lot more to a classical education than just Latin. Emphasizing the trivium is without question worthwhile, because it's so important to be able to think and then communicate. Mathematics is also essential; the rest of the quadrivium perhaps less so.
In our homeschool we put a great emphasis on reading, writing, math, and just developing a curiosity to keep learning. There are many other valuable subjects for which, like Latin, a strong argument can be made for teaching. But I would agree, regarding these secondary subjects, that it is a matter of making tradeoffs based on the teacher's available time and the student's particular aptitude or needs. There are only so many hours in the day!
The "faith tradition" happens to intersect with THE basis for partitioning history. Whether you call it Anno Domini or CE, why do we date things this way? Does it matter?
Consider the success and educational utility of immersive colonial Williamsburg.