Skills Taught in a Classical Education

The following is a simple scope and sequence of the skills taught in a classical education given by Leigh Bortins.

Infant to 4 years of age should

• be trained to obey their parents
  
• memorize songs and stories
  
• learn to be kind

4 to 8 years of age should

• be trained to clean a house
  
• be taught to read phonetically
  
• develop the daily habit of studying math

9 to 12 years of age should

• be trained to manage a household
  
• be trained to memorize lots of facts
  
• be taught spelling and grammar rules of languages
  
• be taught to write well constructed sentences
  
• be taught to write well constructed paragraphs

13 to 14 years of age should

• be trained in vocational skills
  
• be taught to write well constructed paragraphs
  
• be taught to write well constructed essays
  
• be taught to defend ideas
  
• be taught public speaking
  
• be taught formal logic
  
• be taught research skills

15 to 18 years of age should

• be taught leadership skills
  
• be taught to write comparative analysis of ideas
  
• be taught to challenge ideas

Source: ECHO IN CELEBRATION: A Call to Home-Centered Education by Leigh Bortins