About Us
History
Amicus Fidelis, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed in 2004. We are dedicated to
making Christian classical education available to all people.
We saw a great need for the support of an educational model that has proved very
successful in Christian Schools, producing disciplined, discerning, intelligent, and
caring children. We want to support this model and expand its scope to include not
only children but also adults with special needs.
making Christian classical education available to all people.
We saw a great need for the support of an educational model that has proved very
successful in Christian Schools, producing disciplined, discerning, intelligent, and
caring children. We want to support this model and expand its scope to include not
only children but also adults with special needs.
What is Classical Education?
"Classical" Education means more than reading Homer, Plato, Caesar and Cicero. It
is pursuing a classical model and method for education - namely, the Trivium.
The Trivium contains three areas : Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric. Each of these
three areas is especially suited to the three stages in a child's mental development.
During his early years, a child studies the Grammar portion of the Trivium. The
Grammar period (ages 5-11) includes a great deal of language, preferably an ancient
language, such as Latin or Greek, that will require the child to spend a great deal
time learning and memorizing its grammatical structure. During their younger years
children possess a great natural ability to memorize large amounts of material even
though they may not understand its significance This is the time to fill them full of
facts, such as the multiplication tables, geography, dates, events, plant and animal
classifications: anything that lends itself to easy repetition and assimilation by the
mind.
During the second period, the Logic period (ages 12-14), the child begins to
understand that which he has learned and begins to use his reason to ask
questions based on the information that he has gathered in the Grammar stage. It is
during this stage that the child no longer sees the facts that he learned as merely
separate pieces of information but he starts to put them together into logical
relationships by asking questions.
The third period is that of Rhetoric (ages 14-16). During this period the child moves
from merely grasping the logical sequence of arguments to learning how to present
them in a persuasive, aesthetically pleasing form. The student can now begin to
specialize in particular areas of interest and is equipped to move on to the
Quadrivium, which involves specialization in particular areas of study.
is pursuing a classical model and method for education - namely, the Trivium.
The Trivium contains three areas : Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric. Each of these
three areas is especially suited to the three stages in a child's mental development.
During his early years, a child studies the Grammar portion of the Trivium. The
Grammar period (ages 5-11) includes a great deal of language, preferably an ancient
language, such as Latin or Greek, that will require the child to spend a great deal
time learning and memorizing its grammatical structure. During their younger years
children possess a great natural ability to memorize large amounts of material even
though they may not understand its significance This is the time to fill them full of
facts, such as the multiplication tables, geography, dates, events, plant and animal
classifications: anything that lends itself to easy repetition and assimilation by the
mind.
During the second period, the Logic period (ages 12-14), the child begins to
understand that which he has learned and begins to use his reason to ask
questions based on the information that he has gathered in the Grammar stage. It is
during this stage that the child no longer sees the facts that he learned as merely
separate pieces of information but he starts to put them together into logical
relationships by asking questions.
The third period is that of Rhetoric (ages 14-16). During this period the child moves
from merely grasping the logical sequence of arguments to learning how to present
them in a persuasive, aesthetically pleasing form. The student can now begin to
specialize in particular areas of interest and is equipped to move on to the
Quadrivium, which involves specialization in particular areas of study.
Why educate a child using
the Christian Classical
Model?
the Christian Classical
Model?
Academics - Classical languages,
Logic, Rhetoric, high standards.
Results - Children have the basic
tools of learning and can now learn
on their own.
Methodology - Natural models for
education and can be used for both
gifted and special need students.
Logic, Rhetoric, high standards.
Results - Children have the basic
tools of learning and can now learn
on their own.
Methodology - Natural models for
education and can be used for both
gifted and special need students.
Amicus Foundation
Amicus Fidelis, Inc. (Faithful Friend)
Amicus Fidelis, Inc. (Faithful Friend)
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Watch a clip of Grammar Stage
memorization. This is 1st & 2nd
grade reciting parts of speech
jingles.
memorization. This is 1st & 2nd
grade reciting parts of speech
jingles.