I have seen many times when people are asked what makes them classical homeschoolers, they reply  that they are doing the 4 year history cycle so this makes them Classical.  I always have question marks about that answer.  I don't believe the 4 year history cycle has anything to do with Classical Education.  It is definitely an element of  The Well Trained Mind,  but not in the general sense of CE.  There are many people who classify themselves as classical who are doing a 5 year or 6 year cycle of history.  So doing  the whole realm of history in 4 years  does not set you apart as a Classical Educator.

This has led me to think about whether chronological history is an element of Classical Education.  If you are homeschooling your children in the classical way  then is it a given to be teaching them history chronologically?  Can you be hopping all over the timeline, historically, and still be considered a Classical Educator?

The answer to that one is a resounding 'I don't know.'  If the definition of CE  is  instilling wisdom and virtue by nourishing their souls on all that is beautiful, true, and good,  then you can do all of that without doing history in order.  Another important element of Classical Education is to be able to express yourself in written and verbal form.  This can be done regardless of how you teach history.   

Now, I can see if you need to make logical connections from one incident of history to another, then chronological history would be easier to make these  tie-ins.  But is it necessary? 

I just don't think we can say that we are giving our children a Classical Education  based solely on teaching history chronologically.  There are many more components that figure into the definition than just this one.

Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies  with her husband,  homeschooling their 3 children  and attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more at her blog.

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