"A believer is obliged to raise his children. Every man and every woman has a right to educate their children in their religious values. When a government deprives children of this formation, it can lead to cases like Nazism, when children were indoctrinated with values which were alien to the ones held by their parents." - Pope Francis
Common Core Standards
It is our belief that the wide adoption of the national Common Core standards is opposed to the Catholic principle of subsidiarity. We also believe that the Common Core standards are not conducive to a classical education. Many proponents of Common Core espouse a philosophy that views education solely as a means of creating adults with the ability to contribute to the economy and provide for themselves financially (along with the indoctrination of certain "desirable" political and social positions). A classical approach to education seeks to prepare students for economic life, but more importantly, for a fully human life and ultimately, for Heaven.
The focus in the Common Core standards on non-fiction, technical texts is not the best approach to a literature / reading program. Those texts certainly have their place, but true literature can help provide students with an appreciation of beauty, a more broadly developed mind, and even an awareness of God.
Moreover, the comparably weak math standards do not push most students to reach the heights of their potential. Our expectations regarding the level of accomplishment graduating high school students should experience are significantly above what the Common Core standards encourage.
Please note: This is not meant as a criticism of Catholic dioceses that have chosen to use the Common Core as guidelines. There are things of value in the Common Core standards, and Catholic schools are free of the mandates facing public schools. They will likely supplement and substitute much of their curriculum. And I can say from experience how seriously Diocese of Orange schools seek to develop Catholic identity. If you are considering a diocesan Catholic school, I would recommend meeting with the principal to learn how the standards are implemented, and how Catholic identity is fostered.
Technology
Aquinas Academy takes very seriously the AAP's grave warnings about children, screen time and brain development. As such, computer technology is used on a limited scale, and with a targeted purpose. No specific technology classes are offered at Aquinas Academy. We trust the research that suggests a child's mind is far better formed by education that is language based. The students are active learners and we use kinesthetic methodology but screen time at school is limited.
This, of course, is at odds with the overwhelming trends in conventional schools, which is another reason why Aquinas Academy's flexibility and insistence that parents are their children's primary educators is so important to our program. Parents are encouraged to help their children with computer literacy and immerse them to whatever level they feel is appropriate. They can rest assured that that decision will be left to their best judgment.
It is our belief that children who have been properly educated will not find it difficult to master computers when they are developmentally ready for serious work and study with them. They will also have an intelligence and depth of thinking that will put them far ahead of their peers.
It is our belief that the wide adoption of the national Common Core standards is opposed to the Catholic principle of subsidiarity. We also believe that the Common Core standards are not conducive to a classical education. Many proponents of Common Core espouse a philosophy that views education solely as a means of creating adults with the ability to contribute to the economy and provide for themselves financially (along with the indoctrination of certain "desirable" political and social positions). A classical approach to education seeks to prepare students for economic life, but more importantly, for a fully human life and ultimately, for Heaven.
The focus in the Common Core standards on non-fiction, technical texts is not the best approach to a literature / reading program. Those texts certainly have their place, but true literature can help provide students with an appreciation of beauty, a more broadly developed mind, and even an awareness of God.
Moreover, the comparably weak math standards do not push most students to reach the heights of their potential. Our expectations regarding the level of accomplishment graduating high school students should experience are significantly above what the Common Core standards encourage.
Please note: This is not meant as a criticism of Catholic dioceses that have chosen to use the Common Core as guidelines. There are things of value in the Common Core standards, and Catholic schools are free of the mandates facing public schools. They will likely supplement and substitute much of their curriculum. And I can say from experience how seriously Diocese of Orange schools seek to develop Catholic identity. If you are considering a diocesan Catholic school, I would recommend meeting with the principal to learn how the standards are implemented, and how Catholic identity is fostered.
Technology
Aquinas Academy takes very seriously the AAP's grave warnings about children, screen time and brain development. As such, computer technology is used on a limited scale, and with a targeted purpose. No specific technology classes are offered at Aquinas Academy. We trust the research that suggests a child's mind is far better formed by education that is language based. The students are active learners and we use kinesthetic methodology but screen time at school is limited.
This, of course, is at odds with the overwhelming trends in conventional schools, which is another reason why Aquinas Academy's flexibility and insistence that parents are their children's primary educators is so important to our program. Parents are encouraged to help their children with computer literacy and immerse them to whatever level they feel is appropriate. They can rest assured that that decision will be left to their best judgment.
It is our belief that children who have been properly educated will not find it difficult to master computers when they are developmentally ready for serious work and study with them. They will also have an intelligence and depth of thinking that will put them far ahead of their peers.