Our Program

TJCA-CFA’s charter and the essay on which it is based – the late Dorothy Sayers’s ”Lost Tools of Learning” – emphasize the trivium of grammar, dialectic (logic), and rhetoric as foundational both for further studies and for post-collegiate life. Indeed, the ability to write correctly, to reason soundly, and to speak persuasively serves one well in any field of study, in any profession. In addition to fulfilling all of the requirements for the state’s college/university prep course of study, TJCA-CFA high school students are required to study Latin for two years, logic for two years, and rhetoric for one year. The senior rhetoric thesis, which has both written and oral components, is the capstone of the curriculum.

Sayers emphasizes that grammar, logic, and rhetoric are stages of learning as well as foundational disciplines. During the grammar stage of learning (roughly corresponding to middle school), teachers emphasize a rigorous grounding in the basics of all the subjects. During the dialectic stage (early high school), the Socratic method (used in all grades) comes to the fore, while the rhetoric stage (late high school) places a greater emphasis on debates and presentations. Throughout the TJCA-CFA curriculum, preference is shown for original works – particularly the great books that have stood the test of time – over textbook summaries. In addition, TJCA-CFA takes to heart Plato’s observation that the fine arts and athletics play a crucial role in classical education.