Biblical-Classical vs. Classical

The Principle Approach® is not ‘classical’ in the sense that most methods are referred to as classical. It has been referred to as Biblical-classical. This differentiates it from what most of us understand as classical. The Principle Approach method is taken from the Hebrew method which incorporates God’s Word at the heart of all learning. Also, you’ll find that the ‘trivium’ is very rigid in the idea that deep reasoning cannot occur in young children. According to the Trivium small children learn almost exclusively from memorization. I have personally witnessed this not to be true. I have been an administrator in Principle Approach schools and witnessed our very young children reasoning and very deep levels. As children get older if they have not been raised into reasoning Biblically, they may find it a difficult transition once you try to introduce it. It’s never been worth it to me to throw this away for exclusive memorization. Memorization is very beneficial, but not at the expense of reasoning.

You may find it helpful to read the article you’ll find at the following link: http://www.face.net/files/Articles/tampa_address.pdf . It is written by Carole Adams, the president of the Foundation for American Christian Education. In it you will find a comparison of the classical and Hebraic methods.