Hillsdale Curriculum

Teacher-led classrooms

Modern education emphasizes what is often called “child-centered” learning. We agree that students are the object of a proper education and that the purpose of teaching is to ensure that each student masters the material and develops the personal discipline that gives rise to knowledge and virtue. This requires teachers who are attentive to the unique strengths and weaknesses of their students and who are adept at imparting knowledge to every child in their classroom, without compromising either curricular rigor or pedagogical soundness. Historically, this was not always the case in American schools.

But too often today, “child-centered” learning makes students not only the object, but also the subject and the author of their own education, where the primary purpose of teaching is no longer to impart true knowledge and virtue but rather is to come alongside students on their own, unique path of “self-discovery” and “self-expression.” This approach, like the harsh indifference of some traditional schooling before it, is an abdication of the teacher’s obligation to lead all of her students to a knowledge and love of what is true and good and beautiful.

Primary sources in physical books

Books have always been the main source of knowledge and wisdom in the human experience. We believe children should read the greatest books ever written. To that end, we prioritize books over experience, utilize primary sources whenever possible, and use textbooks that convey knowledge, rather than another’s interpretation of history. Why read what someone else thinks Socrates said or meant? Why not read what Socrates said for himself? If we want our children to be able to make well-informed opinions and become strong thinkers, we should not give them textbook information tainted with an author’s bias. Rather, we should return to the source and engage with the original author himself so that, through question and discussion, the student can join the great conversation.

Developing the whole person through mastering our core virtues

We believe in the strength and enduring truth of the 7 classical virtues. To this end, we emphasize mastery of the traditional 7 virtues and trust in their formative influence: prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope, charity.

As a Hillsdale College Curriculum School, we use the Curriculum developed by Hillsdale, a sample of which you can view here. Some highlights include:

• Core Knowledge Sequence (not to be confused with “Common Core”)
• Explicit Phonics
• Singapore Math, a traditional approach to mathematical thinking
• Integrated fine arts and music
• Reading the classics and great books in literature classes
• A classical approach to science
• Study of Latin
• Grammar and composition instruction

We intend to add a grade per year until K-12 is served. Looking ahead, our high school curriculum highlights:

• 4 years of in depth study of history
• 4 years of in depth study of literature
• 4 years of in depth study of science (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy)
• 4 years of in depth study of mathematics (geometry, algebra I & II, pre-calc, calculus)
• American government
• Moral philosophy
• Logic and rhetoric
• Economics
• Art and music