In classical education, rhetoric is the final stage of the trivium. In these culminating four years, students use all the knowledge they’ve gained in the grammar and logic stages to better express themselves and their viewpoints. In other words, rhetoric students concentrate on the eloquent expression of their understanding (as well as persuading others of their interpretations). This past December, our 9th-11th graders took a field trip to Sinclair House in order to practice these skills.
Our Rhetoric School History teacher, Chesterton Cobb, and his family live in an historic mansion in Luray called the Sinclair House. Over the last few years, the Cobbs have turned the estate into an academic retreat center where they run regular classical programs for students, teachers, and young professionals from Virginia. Their hope is to foster interscholastic community between classical Christian schools.
Among these initiatives is the Classical Union — a program modeled after classic debating societies at academic institutions such as the Oxford Union and the Yale Political Union — where groups of classical Christian students from different schools come together for a day of parliamentary-style chamber debate. Complete with a chairman, a gavel, and spirited spectator participation, the Classical Union is the perfect opportunity for students to take the information and oration skills they've learned to deliver winsome (and sometimes outlandish) impromptu orations to a lively audience of peers, while building wholesome community with like-minded students.
On December 9th, the whole Rhetoric School at Redeemer Classical School and the junior class of Ad Fontes Academy in Centreville, VA, debated on the resolution, “Resolved, Technology is Amoral.” Over a dozen passionate speeches were made by students referencing everything from nuclear warfare to Aristotle to predestination to The Lord of the Rings. At the end of the day, the resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, much to the dismay of the Luddites sympathizers in the room.
We consider the day a great success, as our Redeemer students are already talking about returning to the Sinclair House for their next event. What a wonderful way to sharpen their rhetoric and deepen friendships with like-minded peers from other classical Christian schools.