Pineapple Cove Classical Academy

Classical Education

Liberal Arts: To Live Free, To Live Well

Classical education is a liberal arts education. “Liberal”, in this case, means “free.” Classical education prepares the student to live in freedom and independence, and not in a servile existence. The primary art for which we are preparing is the art of living well. Classically trained students will be well qualified for future studies in law, medicine, business, engineering, technology, theology or any other professional or vocational pursuit. We aim for our students to know the story of our country, and to read and write with facility. Job skills are a by-product and not the end of classical education. We are clear that a young graduate who is able to use her knowledge of the past to make good decisions in the present, and to plan wisely for the future will be in high demand and prepared to flourish.

Classical education requires teachers who are trained in academic disciplines (literature, history, sciences, mathematics, etc.), and not just in “education”. Naturally, classical teachers love to spend time with children, they are kindhearted, and they know how to manage a classroom. But subject matter expertise is required. Our vision is to create a faculty that is academically gifted and in full pursuit of intellectual interests, because these habits tend to positively influence students who are by nature looking for leaders to follow.

Classical education incorporates the best of yesterday and today in order to prepare students for the future. The “Trivium” is an integral component of Classical education today. The Trivium includes both content and methods of the learning in Classical Education.

Classical Trivium?

The Classical Trivium – Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric

Classical Education is based on the concept of the Trivium, or “three roads,” which speaks to the structure of every subject and discipline. The Trivium model describes three stages; grammar, logic, and rhetoric, which follow the developmental growth of children from their ability to easily memorize information to wanting to know how and why things are as they are, to analyzing the big picture, and expressing thoughts and opinions in a manner which is both eloquent and persuasive.

• The Grammar stage studies the facts and rules of various subjects and disciplines in order to build a foundation of knowledge. Questions of who, what, where, and when are the focus.

• The Dialectic stage brings factual data into ordered relationships, both within and across subjects and disciplines. The goal is to equip students with the thinking skills necessary to recognize sound arguments and ideas, and to detect and correct fallacious ones. This stage addresses the questions of how and why, and includes study in formal logic and the intensive study of classical languages.

• The Rhetoric stage seeks to produce students who can use language and marshal arguments, both written and spoken, to express their thoughts precisely, eloquently, and persuasively. It includes the study of formal rhetoric.


“The good man speaking well.” Quintilian


Distinctive Features of Classical Education at Pineapple Cove Academy:

• Ordered, respectful environment. Manners matter. Hard work is expected.

• Back-to-basics approach. Significant emphasis on phonics-based reading, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. Explicit phonics taught using the Riggs method curriculum materials.

• Student will read and discuss traditional works of literature, history, and philosophy that embody perennial truths of the human soul and which remain compelling because they present these truths in memorable, or beautiful, ways. Students will write and respond to these classical works and analyze those characters, stories, and ideas that teach lessons in truth, virtue, and integrity.

• Memory work, recitation and public speaking are cultivated through practice. Recitations include selections from historical primary source documents and poetry.


• Mathematics is taught conceptually and will include a strong foundation in basic math facts. Curriculum materials will include the use of Singapore Math and Saxon Math published materials.

• Core Knowledge materials will be used as a framework for our content-rich, K-8 curriculum Literature, History, Science, Language Arts, Geography, Music, and Art.

• Science will be taught with an emphasis on scientific facts and the inquiry- based method and will include the incorporation of technical approaches to observing, describing, and recording, ordering, analyzing, testing and comparing predictions to observations. The Core Knowledge science program, supplemented by the FOSS science lab program, provides students a strong basis in science instruction.

• Students read primary source documents, letters, etc. in addition to textbooks in all subjects.

• In literature courses, students read classical literature selections.

• Emphasis on visual and performing arts – theory, history, and performance.

• Teacher-led classroom marked by Socratic, responsive discussion.

• Latin is introduced in 4th Grade and is required through 9th Grade.


Why Latin?
Classical schools are also known for teaching classical languages, usually Latin, but sometimes Latin and Greek. Latin has been taught in classical schools for centuries, even after Latin ceased to be a popular spoken language. There is good reason for this, for the study of Latin rewards us richly in several ways.Latin is the mother tongue for over 50% of all English words, so the study of Latin greatly enhances one’s English vocabulary. Often, just one Latin word is responsible for several English words. Take for example, the Latin word porto (I carry). From this word are derived port, portal, porter, porch, airport, import, important, transport, export, report, and portable. In this case one Latin word helps yield ten English words—a pretty good investment.Latin also helps students understand grammar. As they learn Latin grammar, they are also learning or reinforcing their knowledge of English grammar. Our own way of labeling and analyzing English grammar evolved from the study of Latin grammar. The grammar of the Latin language is logical, straightforward, and highly regular, making it an ideal language to learn grammar that can be applied to many other languages, including of course, English. It has been shown repeatedly that the study of Latin quickens and enables one’s mastery of English. SAT and GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores rise.Finally, we should mention that Latin is also the mother tongue of the so-called “Romance languages” of Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian. They are called “Romance languages” because they directly descended from the language of the Romans—which was Latin. If 50% of our words in English come from Latin, up to 90% of the words in these languages come from Latin. Students, therefore, who study Latin and/or Greek, will find they are on their way to learning additional languages (especially Romance languages) with much less effort.Taken from An Introduction to Classical Education: A Guide for Parents by Dr. Christopher Perrin via Classical Academic Press