Q) Does my child really need 3-4 hours of homework in high school?

While some classical or college preparatory schools emphasize the quantity of material their students learn, Saint Augustine School is committed to the principle of multum non multa. This mysterious little Latin proverb is roughly translated as “much not many.” In committing ourselves to multum non multa, we emphasize quality over quantity and depth over the pace of study.

When students have too much academic work to do, they have no time to actually benefit from their education. Learning at a breakneck pace robs them of their opportunity to be at leisure, to reflect upon what they are doing, and to integrate their learning into their lives.

There is little educational value in asking students to read more than they can digest. There is no reason to assign thirty problems for homework when ten would do. And there is no reason students should regularly be doing homework at ten or eleven o’clock at night. At Saint Augustine School, your child will experience homework that meaningful but also limited.

Q) I love the classical curriculum, but how do I know if my child is getting a balanced approach to life?

Studies have consistently shown that children are spending less and less time encountering reality directly and in an unstructured way — whether that be spending time outdoors, building a treehouse, riding around the neighborhood on bikes, or even taking advantage of the freedom of a driver’s license. They spend more time plugged in, online, and engaged in constant social media with little time for creativity, craft, or play. At the same time, many classical or college prep schools ask children to spend eight, ten, or even twelve hours a day living entirely in their own heads.

At Saint Augustine School, we embrace a view of the human person as soul and body. We want to give our students a hands-on experience of the world and invite them to respond both intellectually and imaginatively.

Our science program is marked by encounters with the real world that give rise to authentic questions. Our composition courses feature creative as well as analytical writing. In history classes, teachers engage the students’ imagination and avoid merely transferring information. We have also dedicated a period at the end of each day to the common and creative arts.

Before transitioning to homework or some other activity, students will have a daily opportunity either to work on their own creative projects (poetry, fiction writing, independent art projects, etc.) or to learn about and practice one of what the classical tradition calls the “common arts” (gardening, woodworking, drafting, leather craft, etc.)

Q) We want to pass a meaningful faith on to our children. Like many parents, we’re unsure how to equip them for what they are facing now and what they will face in the future. How do we do that?

According to the Pew Research Center, “almost half of Catholics who are now unaffiliated (48%) left Catholicism before reaching age 18 … an additional three-in-ten left the Catholic Church as young adults between ages 18 and 23.” Of course, the reasons for many young people’s departure from the Catholic faith are complex and diverse. But one thing is certain — the old methods of passing on the faith to the next generation are no longer working as they once might have.

Traditional Catholic education was formulated in a very different time and cultural situation. But as that situation changed, schools continued to rely upon catechesis or faith formation that many students experienced as uninspiring. Sadly, for many of these students, the specifically Catholic part of their education became the least interesting part of their day.

In consultation with both religious and lay experts on Catholic education, Saint Augustine School has created an integrated set of courses designed to connect with students at the level of experience and desire. Without pandering or speaking down to students, these courses are designed to reveal to students how the church’s doctrines, disciplines, and way of life propose real solutions and a compelling vision for human life as they are living it and thinking about it in all of their courses.

Q) I would love to enroll my child in a classical school, but I’ve heard that some classical math and science programs are too weak and others are far too difficult. How can I find one that’s just right?

One of the hallmarks of classical or liberal arts education is the “common curriculum.” Insofar as possible, students experience the same course of study and the same intellectual development. This important principle helps create unity, establishes an intellectual culture, develops traditions across time, and allows for connections between the various courses.

At the same time, experience has shown that it is difficult to maintain this practice in mathematics and sciences in the upper grades. Some schools address the challenge by making their math and science programs less intellectually challenging, but this risks leaving top students unmotivated. Others take the opposite approach and maintain a high level of academic rigor in their common courses, hoping to support struggling students with tutoring, extra help, or other support. This leaves those students feeling burned out and feeling like they are poor math and science students.

Saint Augustine School takes a balanced approach. Students share a rich curriculum in the humanities, arts, and languages as well as a common foundation in math and science. In the upper grades, though, students can choose the pace and content that will allow them to maximize their own learning.