Classical Conversations Is Not Perfect

I feel led to share this today.

A “perfect” Classical education is not for every child, if there even were any such thing.

Our children are not products, but souls. And they are not collectives, but individuals. They have distinct personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and passions, and God has unique plans for their lives.

As no child is the same as another, no family is the same. We are made up of varying numbers of unique individuals, and each family has a unique situation and atmosphere and needs and desires.

Classical Conversations is not “the right way to educate a child” (Just as The Well-Trained Mind or Charlotte Mason or… is not “the right way to educate a child.”) It is not a perfect fit for every family. Not even most families. And each CC community is made up of humans. Very HUMAN humans. So each community experience will be different.

Wouldn’t this world be a boring place if we were all the same? I think so. Would we understand our need for God’s grace if we didn’t experience it daily—both in giving and receiving?

But if I talk about Classical Conversations as a wonderful experience, it is because that is our experience.

Perfect? No. For everyone? No. The only “Christian” way to educate a child? No. A permanent decision that should never be re-evaluated? No. A good fit for every family in every season? No. An enjoyable experience for every child? No.

[Is there anyone who wouldn’t make a few changes to the program if given carte blanche? No. Would everyone make the same changes? No. Is there any program in which there is unanimous approval? I think not.]

But a good fit for us? Yes. How we feel called to educate our children in this moment? Yes. An intentional rather than default decision on our part? Yes.

A business deal? No. If you enroll in Classical Conversations, I get nothing but the hope that it is a good experience for you. [If you make purchases using my Amazon links or my All About Learning Press affiliate button on the side, I do receive a small commission, and I’m thankful for those of you who choose to do so. But you are in no way to feel pressured to do so, and I have no way of knowing who has purchased items using my links and who has not. And when I recommend a book or resource, it is because we have found it helpful and/or delightful.]

If you read my blog, I hope you feel encouraged and supported regardless of your educational decisions.

If you came to a CC practicum where I spoke, I hope you felt encouraged regardless of your decision to enroll in CC (or not). I hope you learned something new that was applicable to your life as a parent interested in the education of your child. I hope you learned something new in your own journey as a life-long student. I felt encouraged by you and by your willingness to join in conversation. And I learned many new things, as well.

I believe strongly in choices and support and encouragement for parents. And I, for one, am so thankful that the choice to enroll my children in our local Classical Conversations community was available to me—because it is a great fit for our family in this season. I am thankful for the opportunity, for the experience, and for the community of wonderful humans that we have been blessed to be a part of.