Geneva Academy

Before all else, Geneva Academy desires to teach and exhibit a Christian worldview in which the Lordship of Christ over all of life is lived out. Christian education has a long and glorious history in the West, and we wish to take part in that tradition. Further, for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom and the advancement of the Gospel, we hope our graduates will be used to lay the foundation of a pervasive Christian culture in Monroe and beyond.

We teach according to the time-tested classical approach of the trivium, which follows the natural stages and abilities of the students. Our short history has already produced great results and favorable remarks from parents and friends of our students.

What do we mean by “Classical?”

Throughout history the term “classical” has been used by at least three main groups: Pagan classicism, Thomistic classicism and Reformational classicism. We follow the Reformers.

From late antiquity forward, the Western tradition has practiced the “three ways” of the trivium: grammar, logic and rhetoric. Grammar refers to the facts to be known in each subject. Logic focuses on the relationships of those facts. Rhetoric is the winsome and virtuous presentation of those well-ordered facts. The biblical correlatives to the trivium are knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

Western Civilization

Another very important aspect to the classical tradition is the study of Western culture. Jesus Christ entered a certain region at a particular time in history. The impact of that event has been colossal. Western civilization cannot be understood apart from church history, and church history (beginning with the Bible) cannot be understood apart from its context.

In other words, the City of God and the City of Man have intermingled. Christians must be able to discern between the two from within their city walls.

Without a study of the ideas of the Western tradition it is impossible to know how to engage culture today.

 
What do we mean by “Christian?”

Too many Christian schools have been the product of reaction, not action. When we say “Christian school” we do not mean a public school with good manners and a Bible class. A true Christian school teaches a Christian worldview curriculum and biblical virtues.

Parents have a God-given responsibility to apply the Word to their children from the time they rise until the time they lie down (Deut. 6). Teachers, in the place of the parents, are responsible to teach “along the way” whether the students are in class or at lunch. Loving God and one another in manners, dress and speech are all emphasized.

At Geneva we teach the students to view life in terms of the antithesis between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. A Christian education enables the students to clearly distinguish between good and evil, wisdom and foolishness.

Also, a Christian school is not a place where no one sins. Rather, a Christian school deals with sin. Laziness, gossip, slander, crude speech and cheating are all handled biblically, that is, seriously and quickly. This is all part of training young men and women.

Lastly, we are commanded to love God with our brains (mind). As a Christian school we must teach our students to use our minds well. Much thinking is required and all thinking must be captive to Christ.

 Why are we Gender-Segregated in the Secondary School?

Before any answer can be given, it must be recognized that history has little record of co-educational institutions before the end of the 19th century. Therefore, teaching boys and girls separately should need little defense, but here we go:

Boys are easily distracted. The time spent in school should be focused and serious. When girls enter the room this becomes increasingly difficult. Segregation removes many temptations from the students to show off and enables them to truly focus on the work at hand. Of course, a mixed classroom can work, but we believe the benefits of segregation in the secondary school outweigh those of the mixed classroom.

Our goal is to create the best environment for learning while teaching each sex according to their particular needs. The curriculum is the same for both, but the applications will differ according to calling. We believe that the training of the mind and soul that classical Christian education affords is needful for both our sons and our daughters.