The Latin-Centered Curriculum: A Home Schooler's Guide to the Classical Curriculum by Andrew A. Campbell (2008-01-01) Paperback

by Andrew A. Campbell

Andrew Campbell's new book, The Latin Centered Curriculum, gives teachers and parents an interesting and easy to read guide explaining classical education, how it came about, and who its major exponents are. In addition to a useful scope and sequence for how a Latin-centered classical education can be accomplished in a home or private school, Campbell explains why the central principle behind classical education is the study of Latin and Greek.

Campbell provides a short history of the modern classical movement, examines the predominant role of Latin in a classical education, and explains how the other pieces of the classical curriculum fit together. He provides the practical application to Tracy Lee Simmons' statement that a "Classical education is a curriculum grounded upon Greek, Latin, and the study of civilization from which the arose."

In addition to chapters on Latin, Greek, and logic, Campbell covers the various content areas of classical education, such as English studies, classical studies, Christian and modern studies, with sections on arithmetic, science, and mathematics.

But this is far from a purely theoretical book. In a chapter entitled, "Scope and Sequence," he gives a practical overview of what a Latin-based classical curriculum looks like from Kindergarten to 12th grade. With helpful charts and explanations, this book constitutes a manual for the Christian educator who wants a complete understanding of what is involved in a classical education.

The most important section in the book, may well be the chapter titled "Multum non Multa." This is the principle sometimes expressed by the maxim, "Less is more." It is the idea that, rather than throwing multiple subjects at students and burying them under a mountain of unconnected disciplines, educators should instead employ an integrated focus on a few important core disciplines and related subject areas.

The best education, Campbell points out, is simple but deep.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Parenting

Unknown Binding

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first edition. Campbell's argument effectively fleshed out why I would NOT follow this pedagogy. I've been long convinced of the value of studying the Latin and Greek roots of English and the merits of being familiar with the great philosophers and the Greco-Roman contribution to Western Culture. But I cannot venerate it to the exclusion of of math and science, nonwestern culture, and modern classic literature. Latin can stretch the mind, but so does math and physics.

I appreciate the mantra "multum non multa"--not many things, but much. Ironically, Campbell's plan would complicate our homeschool, and frankly, drain the joy from it.

[Hope Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Rigorous and flexible classical curriculum. Clarified the history and goals a classical vs. neo-classical education. Charlotte Mason has my heart but this was compatible and contributed to "the great conversation". Recommend!

[Mystie Winckler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Own. His premise is that we should study a few great things deeply, rather than study many things. His curriculum section then explains his pared-down approach. Yes, Latin and classical studies are his unifying force, and he actually does what Dorothy Sayers suggests, which is teach English grammar through Latin.

Andrew Campbell’s motto is multum non multa: not quantity, but quality. Campbell explains his philosophy with brevity and clarity, then outlines materials and schedules with grace and flexibility. His premise is that we should study a few great things deeply, rather than study many subjects. His curriculum section then gives the practical details of his pared-down approach.

Yes, Latin and classical studies are his unifying force, and he actually does what Dorothy Sayers suggests: he teaches English grammar through Latin. I am drawn to the grammar-through-Latin approach, because it wasn’t until I studied Spanish that I understood many grammar terms and workings.

However, I think church history (from Genesis to today) will be our unifying center rather than classical studies; he maintains that it’s not classical education if it’s not focused on classical learning, although he does emphasize religion studies (with options for Protestants, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox, yet he assumes his audience is Christian and leaves secular classical educators completely out of the discussion).

He distinguishes between academic studies and independent learning, stating that though many good titles are not on his curriculum list (like Wind in the Willows, Narnia, etc.) he assumes they will be experienced by independent reading or family read-aloud time (an hour a day for both, he suggests) rather than studied formally during school time. He says such reading should not be considered “school,” but rather simply what people do: read. The same goes for delight-directed science as well as art and music appreciation.

Such things should be experienced as part of informal family life growing up and not be studied formally in elementary (he starts science studies at seventh grade and all arts are only studied formally as desired by particular families or students). Experiencing quality music and art as a matter of everyday life, he says, is a good inoculation against modern marketing and drivel (my phrasing, not his).

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this book every year. It's short, and helps me to remember that education is "lighting a fire, not filling a bucket" (can't remember who said that, but it's true).

This book focuses on simplicity - both in the curriculum/book choices and the schedule. I prefer the first edition, as it relies more on living books. I love how the author includes music in the daily schedule, and the 1 hour of family reading, plus 30-60 minutes of silent reading for each child. But the best part of the book is its calming influence when I am overwhelmed by all the possibilities for homeschoolers. I need to be reminded "quality, not quantity", and that I don't have to teach *everything* formally.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I want to include Latin soon in my homeschool. I enjoyed a lot in the first chapter or two about the importance of classical education. And although I got some ideas for introducing Latin, I am definitely not drawn to a “Latin-centered” philosophy. I am a Charlotte Mason Educator through and through. I appreciate the large feast that a CM education gives my children, versus the overwhelming rigorous curriculum laid out in this book. I am content with the Classical Bend that my Charlotte Mason philosophy has. I’m glad I read the book, but realize it’s not for my family.

[Anita Deacon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked:
- Studying a few texts deeply rather than loading down your highschool student with a huge reading list. From personal experience, I think that is the better way.
- Always have time for someone who loves Latin.
- specific resource recs were helpful

Disliked:
- too Memoria Press oriented. Literally the worst.
- along the above lines, if you wanted kids to learn Latin well enough to read Virgil, don’t use MP
- not sure about his approach to science.

Overall, The Liberal Arts Tradition is superior, and Charlotte Mason is similar but more inspiring.

[Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed. Basically just a year-by-year, blow-for-blow account of a Latin and Greek centered classical homeschooling experience.

Awesome. I could do without the bible studies, but I expect that shit from homeschoolers, so I forgive them.

[Catherine Gillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Education is one of my main interests, and over time I’ve read a vast number of books and articles about various philosophies and methods of education and developed my own sense of how I’d like to pursue it in my family. Because I tend to be a strategic/big picture sort of person, I have a vision for how the parts of various philosophies and methods can work together into a great education for my kids, but I have long struggled with how to begin. If I want my child taking Latin AP exams in high school, how do I get there from here? If I want my high schoolers studying humanities (history, government, literature, art, etc) in an integrated and in-depth way, what do I teach them in kindergarten?

That is why The Latin-Centered Curriculum was such a revelation for me, has catapulted into the top spot as my new favorite book on education, and will be one of my top picks for 2011. This book is enormously helpful and useful, containing not only the reasons for a language-based classical curriculum, but concrete, year-by-year suggestions for scope and sequence, goals, and age-appropriate curricula in various subjects.

As with many other books on classical education, this one begins with an explanation of what the author means by classical (if you have read much in the genre you’ve probably realized that people mean a zillion different things when they say “classical education”) and why you would want that for your child. The Latin-Centered Curriculum focuses on the importance of laying a strong foundation in classical languages and implementing the concept of Multum non Multa, which means “not many things, but much” or, in other words, pursuing a depth of knowledge rather than a large amount of superficial knowledge.

The book provides answers to common objections for Latin and classical study, and offers reasons for pursuing it from a utilitarian, cultural, and formative perspective. If you’re not sure about the reasoning behind studying ancient languages, this section would be helpful for you and I think it’s more persuasively and simply laid out than similar sections in other books. You should know that the classical education discussed in this book is not the “Learn some Latin so you understand the roots of English words and read a lot of Great Books” version espoused by some other classical proponents. The author takes no issue with the Great Books style of neo-classical education, he just thinks that the best foundation for that is laid with studying Latin and Greek for the sake of developing intellectual capacity, reasoning skills, and ability to use language.

The most valuable part of the book, however, is the age-specific discussions of how to implement a classical curriculum beginning in kindergarten. Most of the books I’ve read are good at imparting vision, but fairly weak on how to implement it. The Latin-Centered Curriculum, however, covers year by year practical suggestions for English Studies (in primary years that encompasses phonics, nursery rhymes and tales, copywork, and recitation), Latin, Classical Studies, Christian Studies, Modern Studies, Arithmetic, and Science. I loved seeing the progression of how you could study manageable amounts of things year by year and get to fantastic proficiency by the end of high school.

This book really helped me to crystallize my plan for language study in the primary years and gave me confidence. I haven’t found another book that tracks so closely with my own ideas about education – including rigorous language study, interacting with ideas deeply rather than just superficial facts, using Charlotte Mason type ideas about short lessons and narration, and studying humanities in a fully integrated way.

Since everyone has their own approach to education, I’m sure The Latin Centered Curriculum would be more helpful to some people than others, but I would highly recommend it.

{Read more of my reviews at A Spirited Mind.}

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I look ahead to our fourth year of homeschooling, I am spending more time deeply thinking about the focus of our studies. One thing I’ve learned these past few years is that there are a multitude of educational theories out there, as well as many beautiful curriculums available. I am grateful to have the option to shape what my children’s education looks like right now, but the possibilities and subjects to choose from can be overwhelming. There’s just not enough time in the day to learn all the wonderful things there are to learn about every subject! Maybe this is why Campbell’s premise, that we should study a few great subjects deeply, rather than study several topics shallowly, was so appealing to me. Latin may seem like a strange and antiquated subject to base your child’s education on, but Campbell offers a lot of reasons why the study of Latin is still relevant. A true classical education centers around the study of Latin and Greek, as well as focusing on rhetoric and composition. There is an emphasis on copy work, recitation, and reading aloud. As daunting (and old fashioned) as it sounds, I am increasingly convinced that a classical education offers the ideas and principles that we want to install in our children. Campbell’s book was an excellent introduction to how to define classical education and what this education might look like for homeschoolers. “Classical education is holistic: it is not limited to training the intellect, but aims to form the emotions, the will, and the aesthetic sense. It fosters love for the Good, the True, and the Beautiful wherever they may be found. Its goal is to produce men and women both knowledgeable and virtuous” (22). This is what I want for my children. As for Latin itself, there are several reasons why making Latin the center of a curriculum is worthwhile and rewarding. These reasons range from the practical - building English vocabulary, teaching grammar/composition, and preparing for the study of modern foreign languages, to the more philosophical – increasing knowledge of the past, increased cultural literacy, and the ability to “learn from outstanding models of moral insight and virtue – and their opposites.”
I’m excited to read the other books that Campbell repeatedly referenced, especially Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin, and The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home.

[Trace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book...I've been reading and rereading it over the last 2 months! Its given me fresh inspiration for a classical education...and I have started to implement some of its suggestions in our curriculum.

If there is one area that I can't get on board with, its in the area of science. I can't get behind the notion of focusing mainly on nature studies for science until Grade 9! In this day and environment, I truly believe that a lack of STEM focused studies would be a great disservice.

Why can't we have all of the benefits of a classical education but ALSO integrate STEM a bit (or a lot) more??

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book worth adding to your homeschooling bookshelf even if you don't intend to adopt everything in it.

The first few chapters have a superb introduction to what classical education was and is and how the term is now used by different groups who don't always mean the same thing. Though I'm not convinced to place Latin at the center of my entire homeschool, the author makes an excellent case for studying Latin before other languages and for learning Latin as an effective way of learning English grammar. As someone who doesn't know either Latin or Greek but might want to help a student with these languages, I also found Campbell's clear and concise explanations of the different versions/pronunciations of Latin and Greek and the different methods for teaching these languages very helpful.

The specific schedules of work for each grade are where the book loses me. I want to agree with the underlying principle of less-is-more or quality-over-quantity, but that also feels at odds with trying to give my child a rich and varied education. I'm balking, for example, at so many years of nature study as science. The book might also benefit from further discussion of how Eurocentric classical curricula and great books programs can be. (The author has written and spoken with insight about that topic since this book was published, but I don't see the same level of insight within this volume.)

I'm going to shelve this book next to _The Well-Trained Mind_, another resource I find valuable but don't intend to follow to the letter, and I'll refer back to both books from time to time to see what wisdom they hold at different stages of my child's education.

I read the 2nd edition, which is substantively different from the first.

[Leila Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, and I liked the encouragement that you can and should start Latin as early as possible, along with Greek at some point. Every year there are more and more Latin resources for elementary ages. Among homeschoolers there is a little renaissance of the Latin language happening.

However, I don't remember if he mentions this or not, but the classical education method was historically taught to the best of the best. I'd hardly say it's a democratic approach that would fit all students. In fact, I'd say that to follow this program both you and your student need to be highly motivated and inclined towards the humanities. I would only follow this approach if my child wants to and it fits his or her needs, otherwise I'd take a more standard approach. That being said, if my child even reads ONE of the classical texts suggested for high school, she will be way ahead of where I was when I graduated high school.

Although at first it looks like he dismisses science, when you actually read what he suggests for high school, I found it fairly solid. Designing and carrying out experiments, writing lab reports, individual research, all these things are important and had I learned them in high school, maybe I wouldn't have been too intimidated to study science in college.

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I assumed there would be some overlap in recommendations between this book and The Well-Trained Mind (and there were), but there was plenty of new insight in this little book. It looks like I've already been applying some of his recommendations without knowing it, too!

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly helpful resource on classical education. He gives a solid history of education, discusses the philosophy behind it, and then helps sort out curriculum and scheduling, both practical issues. I appreciated his repeated emphasis on “multum non multa,” not many things but much.

[Joseph Wetterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm impressed by this second edition of The Latin-Centered Curriculum. In this book, Andrew Campbell has provided a good introduction to the classical education model and proposed a well-detailed curriculum. It's thoroughness and level of detail is comparable to Laura Berquist's The Well Trained Mind, without following the "neoclassical" stages-of-learning model. Instead, Campbell is doggedly faithful to the principle of "not many but much" (or quality over quantity), encouraging many informal educational activities around a tight formal core of grammar (incl lit and history), math and copywork/composition.

He puts together an ecumenical curriculum, providing a solid religious education plan with higher-level options in both Catholic and Protestant readings. He's less clear when it comes to middle ages and modern history, where modern Protestant materials can lean anti-Catholic (and, perhaps, vice versa), though he at least implies that care is needed.

I was impressed by his inclusion of (and appreciation for) the Ignatian method of education. Perhaps because of this, he repeatedly references Kolbe Academy course guides and other materials. (I appreciate the many references, but, then, I'm biased as a currenly-enrolled Kolbe parent.) He has a close relationship with Memoria Press and refers to their materials often, as well.

Also impressive was a fair-handed treatment of the well-known Dorothy Sayers speech on "The Lost Tools of Learning". Campbell neither fawns nor throws the baby out with the bathwater.

[Sarah Bringhurst Familia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campbell has written a how-to guide for those who aspire to the lofty educational vision of Climbing Parnassus. I really wanted to love this book, and in fact I did love this book. It presents an excellent and ambitious curriculum plan focusing heavily on ancient Greece and Rome (one year for each). I am just not quite sold on the "multum non multa" idea of focusing on a few key areas and going deeply into them. I don't feel like you have to give up "wide" for "deep." I've incorporated some aspects of this curriculum into mine, notably the serious focus on classical languages. I also subscribe to the associated email list, and find it very enlightening.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Campbell's second edition is now available, and it is FABULOUS. Not to be missed by any LCC home educators. He has completely reworked the schedules and some curricular recommendations (though the scope and sequence is essentially the same), but really, the first few chapters are reason enough to buy the book. Campbell lays out the principles of a LCC, the history behind LCC, and the holistic benefits of the approach. I especially appreciated the beefed up section on great Christians of old and their approach to pagan literature. They were not afraid of ideas!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

He didn't *quite* convince me that my children should be able to read the classics in the original languages, but maybe Climbing Parnassus will better do that. This book did make me think about doing less in our homeschool, but going deeper, and it definitely made me re-think my priorities as a homeschooler and how we might do things differently this coming year.

[Kelsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents one view of a traditional classical education. The proposed selections and underlying philosphy ("multum non multa") have de-stressed (somewhat!) my own approach to classical home education. I also appreciate the many religious/Christian selections.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read so many books on homeschooling in search of the perfect way to make the most amazing kids :) but have found there really isn't one way. This one is a good start, and definitely makes you think outside the box of modern education.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book to help design a Latin-centered curriculum, this could be a helpful addition to your bookshelf. I think I was expecting it to be more of an argument for or justification of the study of Latin, so it really wasn't what I was looking for.

[Meredith Henning]

This was generously sent ot me from the good folks at Memoria Press, a ggod one to have on your shelf!

[TheRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Echos many of the thoughts in Climbing Parnassus, but more accessible to the average reader. I highly recommend this one!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great "how to" for actually implementing a classical education at home. Very helpful.

[Maria Vargason · Rating 4 out of 5]

We won't do things exactly the way he recommends but I love how he whittles away all the unimportant.

[Caroline Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My constant go to for planning my homeschool

[J.A. Busick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic help with setting up my daughters' curricula for the school year.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only read small portions of the book. Will go back to it if I homeschool again.