Cary Christian School

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Cary Christian School
Motto	Ad maiorem Dei gloriam
Established	1996
Type	Classical and Christian
Students	673
Grades	K–12
Location	Cary, North Carolina USA
Superintendent	Larry Stephenson
Website	www.carychristianschool.org

Cary Christian School is a private Christian school located in Cary, North Carolina.

1 Vision Statement
- 1.1 Classical Education
- 1.2 Biblical Worldview
2 School History
3 Slavery Curriculum Controversy
4 External links

[edit] Vision Statement

"We aim to graduate young men and women who think clearly and listen carefully with discernment and understanding; who reason persuasively and articulate precisely; who are capable of evaluating their entire range of experience in the light of the Scriptures; and who do so with eagerness in joyful submission to God." Full Vision Statement

The full vision statement of the school is best summed up in its motto, "Providing an excellent classical education founded upon a Biblical worldview."

[edit] Classical Education

Cary Christian School's philosophy of classical education, derived from Dorothy Sayers' essay The Lost Tools of Learning, is based on three stages known as the "trivium." These stages — grammar, logic, and rhetoric — are fitted to a child's natural development. School Website on Classical Education

[edit] The Grammar Stage (Kindergarten through Grade 6)

The grammar stage focuses on memorization of raw facts. Students learn math, reading, grammar, and history, and are able to reproduce what they learn much like a parrot reproduces phrases spoken to it. This stage has been likened to the gathering of building materials for a house.

[edit] The Logic Stage (Grades 7-9)

During the logic stage, students are trained to think critically and reason succinctly. They learn correct and incorrect forms of argument and formal and informal fallacies, and begin to participate in classroom debates. The logic stage has been likened to the building of a strong, well-planned house.

[edit] The Rhetoric stage (Grades 10-12)

The rhetoric stage prepares students to deliver an argument, a dramatic presentation, or a speech with the utmost effectiveness. Students continue to participate in debates, but with the added advantage of being trained in the art of persuasion. The rhetoric stage has been likened to painting and decorating a house, making it easy to sell.

[edit] Biblical Worldview

Cary Christian School promotes a biblical worldview in two ways: First, education is centered on Scripture. Subjects are taught from a Christian perspective and students are encouraged to pursue a relationship with Christ. Second, students are taught to evaluate their own beliefs, and the beliefs of those around them, on the basis of both logic and Scripture. School Website on Christian Education

[edit] School History

Cary Christian School officially opened its doors September 05, 1996, with 84 students meeting in two trailers. The school experienced rapid growth, expanding to three temporary campuses and eventually to a building of its own, construction of which was completed in 2004. Cary Christian graduated its first senior class in 2005.

[edit] Slavery Curriculum Controversy

The school was criticized in the local press for including the booklet "Southern Slavery, As It Was" on its required reading list for ninth graders [1]. The booklet, written by Pastor Douglas Wilson of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools and Pastor Steve Wilkins, explained how conscientious Christians could have owned slaves in the antebellum South. The book included statements such as how slaves enjoyed a life of plenty and how slaves and masters did not have an adversarial relationship.

The day that the first news report came out, the school announced it had pulled the book from its curriculum. In a press release, the school said the book was removed when it became aware of serious citation and footnoting errors in the text.^[2] The publisher had already ceased distributing the title when it became aware of the errors. Cary Christian says it continues to support its policy of presenting various sides of issues, arguing that students should form (and, more importantly, learn to form) their own opinions.