In the Trenches A School Inside a School
May 14, 2025
Exploring the intersection of faith and education, the discussion draws parallels between the rapid growth of Christianity and classical Christian schools. It delves into the appeal of monastic life as a response to anxiety in faith practices. A bold proposal emerges for creating a monastic-like track within existing schools, complete with distinct uniforms and a unique admission process. By emphasizing handwritten assignments and experiential learning, the idea aims for deep character formation over traditional college prep. It champions the need for rigorous education to meet passionate family demands.
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Growth Creates Identity Anxiety
- Rapid institutional growth changes group identity and creates anxieties about authenticity.
- Joshua Gibbs compares classical Christian education's growth to Christianity's 4th-century expansion to explain this tension.
Monasticism As Deliberate Counterculture
- Monasticism arose as an intentional, rigorous alternative when mainstream practice felt too easy.
- Gibbs uses monasteries as a model for offering a demanding counter-culture within a larger institution.
Classical Education Becoming Mainstream
- Classical schools have become more mainstream and similar to other private schools.
- Gibbs argues the original sacrificial character of classical education has diminished as it became a path to advantage.
