The Trivium

The three roads of the trivium offer three insights for educational practice. First, every discipline has a grammar (that is, a set of rules and vocabulary to explain those rules, a logic (organizing principles and standards for evaluation), and a rhetoric (its stories, discourses, and its applications). Secondly, any topic can be taught in a way that includes its grammar (what is there - factual knowledge), its logic (cause and effect, scope and sequence, and rationale), and its rhetoric (implications). Third, the trivium affirms the developmental nature of  learners – that is, children develop in stages, and we should tailor our pedagogy to each stage.

The Grammar Stage:   Young children have a natural fondness for memorization and repetition.  During this stage, children learn the facts or grammar of each subject through drills, songs, and rhymes. 

At Wilberforce, we see this as a unique time in a child’s life not only to master the rules of reading, writing and math, but also to memorize scripture, poetry, and hymns.  

What distinguishes our approach from most classical schools is the combination of typical classical methods with those pioneered by Charlotte Mason.  We use both self-discovery tools and memorization.   We emphasize the importance of imaginative play and outdoor play in combination with desk work.  We seek to engage the imagination as well as train the mind.

The Logic Stage:  In the middle grades, children’s capacity for abstract thought expands rapidly.  At this stage they become attracted to argumentation and abstract ideas. The introduction of formal logic shifts the focus from mere facts to understanding relationships.   Students learn to reason as they identify critical assumptions, logical fallacies and inconsistencies.

At Wilberforce, we believe this is a significant stage not only to emphasize logic but also to lift up the Lord, in whom all reasoning holds together.  As Christians we prize clear and disciplined reasoning as a tool to grasp and communicate truth.   We also recognize, however, that mere logic that either denies God or does not acknowledge His activity is futile, as Paul says in the first chapter of Romans.  Wilberforce seeks to teach logic in an environment in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is fully embraced.

The Rhetoric Stage:  Students in the upper grades integrate grammar and logic into creative and persuasive communication.  In speech, writing and debate, students develop clarity and beauty of expression in addressing vital and sometimes controversial issues and philosophies. 

Rhetoric was the hallmark of William Wilberforce’s forty years in the British Parliament.   After his conversion to Christianity as a young member of Parliament, Wilberforce realized he had squandered his school years.  He determined to cultivate his God-given ability through reading the classics, constant study of scripture, and diligent attendance to the public issues of his day.  When fully yielded to God and nurtured as an act of faith, Wilberforce’s oratory had unrivaled persistence, forcefulness and moral power.  God used Wilberforce to bring about one of the turning points of world history – the abolition of the slave trade – as well as to champion countless causes for the moral and spiritual reformation of society.   It is our hope that students at The Wilberforce School will be spurred on by his example.