When you think of Classical Education, what do you think of? For most people, the word that is mostly associated with CE is the Trivium. Whether you think of the Trivium as an academic stage or as a trio of subjects (grammar, logic, and rhetoric), the Trivium has a front row seat in the theatre of Classical Education.
Classical Education, though, is not just made up of the Trivium. The Quadrivium is also part of CE. This is the part that seems to get swept under the rug. The Quadrivium is just as important as the Trivium but it represents a different set of subjects. The Trivium includes grammar, logic, and rhetoric. These are the subjects that get more airplay in a discussion of CE. The Quadrivium, though, includes arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. This is the scientific/mathematical side of CE.
Arithmetic and geometry are closely linked to logic. You need highly effective thinking skills to master the problems of algebra. There is a sense of order that needs to be attained when tackling an algebraic sequence. I see arithmetic similar to Latin. When translating English to Latin, or vice versa, your brain is getting a work out trying to figure out the vocabulary and the proper conjugations and declensions being used. Order needs to be used when translating as it needs to be used when doing mathematics.
Math is not just a skill of regurgitating facts. Math is a platform for beauty. When you delve into the various facets of math, you are made aware of just how beautiful math is and is present in nature and the arts. Math has the capacity to take your breath away. This makes it a very important part of Classical Education.
Here is a blog post about math as the forgotten subject in Classical Education.
An Aside: I just discovered an interesting book at the library that ties in with this post. The book is entitled, Lewis Carroll in Numberland. This book is about the noted author of Alice in Wonderland, the man who had an amazing gift with words as well as a gift with numbers. I haven't started reading it yet but I am intrigued.
Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband, homeschooling their 3 children (10,8,6) and attempting to give them a Classical Education. You can read more at her blog.
