What Are the Goals of Classical Education?

At the heart of classical education is the goal of cultivating wisdom. With the development of wisdom comes prudence, from which natural success in the world will follow. Wisdom, however, is not obtained through technical training or over-specialization, but through cultivating a joy in learning and in intellectual pursuits because of the way that these pursuits connect us with our essential humanity. In our essence we are rational creatures; therefore, in fulfilling and exploring our rational nature we achieve our natural end and purpose-and experience delight! This goal is within the reach of every human being, even those with learning challenges.

Contrary to modern theorists that claim that any reading is good reading, classical theorists believe that this goal of forming the wise student and imparting a love of learning cannot be achieved through drudgery or condescending to the lower appetites of the student. As classical educators, we will often hear students new to the approach complain that the material is too hard. Normally, this is not the result of a lower intellectual aptitude in the student but of having become accustomed to the intellectual "junk food" that our culture wants to serve him. Consequently, there is typically a period of adjustment for new students; however, following this adjustment usually comes a flowering of curiosity in the world that is edifying to see for teachers, parents, and, not least of all, the students themselves!