Virtue Education

Live Oak continually seeks to improve our academic, athletic and spiritual programs.  Our standard is excellence, not perfection. Building upon previous platforms, we are implementing a new Virtue Education program for our Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric Schools.  Virtue has a very strong connection to classical education.  Quintilian said that an orator is a good man speaking well.  James K. A. Smith puts it this way: “. . .education is not primarily a heady project concerned with providing information; rather, education is most fundamentally a matter of formation, a task of shaping and creating a certain kind of people.  What makes them a distinctive kind of people is what they love or desire–what they envision as “the good life” or the ideal picture of human flourishing.” Classical education has always been about forming the soul as well as the mind.

Each quarter students in each school will discuss a primary cardinal virtue with three other relative “sub virtues”.  For example, during the first quarter this year, our cardinal virtue will be Justice with the students also examining Hospitality, Courtesy and Kindness. Teachers will present the virtues though stories, bible verses, role playing activities and many other means.  The format will facilitate exchange between the teacher and student rather than simple information dissemination.  Additionally we would like to involve you, our Live Oak parents, in this endeavor.  We will post resources and information on the website so that the conversations may continue and go deeper in your home.  Prayerfully, the Live Oak community will begin to share a common language and practice of virtues through which we can encourage one another.

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:4-6

Overview:

With the spirit of the three theological virtues faith, hope, and love woven within the Virtue curriculum, the LOCS community will study the following Cardinal and sub-virtues:

Justice – giving each person what is due.
Every person is precious in the eyes of God.  Do what is right toward all people.
Grammar Scriptures: Psalm 139:1-18, Psalm 37:28, Psalm 106:3, Proverbs 2:1,2,9,10, Proverbs 16:8, 21:15, 24:23-25, Micah 6:8
Logic/Rhetoric Scriptures: Proverbs 21:15, Amos 5:24, Psalm 89:14

  1. Hospitality – a warm welcome given to guests.
    Hospitality is the friendly reception and treatment of guests and strangers.
    Grammar Scripture: 2 Peter 4:9, Matthew 5:43-48, 25:26-40, Joshua 2:1-24,
    Logic/Rhetoric Scripture: Psalm 89:14, Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2
  2. Courtesy – gestures that show consideration for others.
    Courtesy is behavior marked by respect and consideration of others.
    Scripture: Titus 3:2, Romans 12:14-21, Matthew 7:12
  3. Kindness – tender-hearted care for others.
    Kindness is friendly regard shown toward another.
    Grammar Scripture: Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 10:25-37
    Logic/Rhetoric Scripture: Ephesians 4:32, Jeremiah 9:24, Galatians 5:22

Temperance -Not too much, not too little, but just right of the things we love.
Temperance is practicing self-discipline and self-control
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:5-7, I Corinthians 9:25

  1. Attention – directing your eyes, ears, heart and mind
    Scripture:     Deuteronomy 7:12, Proverbs 4:1,20-21; 5:1-3, Hebrews 2:1, Ezekiel 40:4
  2. Obedience – doing what is asked right away, all the way in a happy way
    Scripture:     Deuteronomy 28:9, Joshua 22:5, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Samuel 15:22a, Colossians 3:20, John 14:15
  3. Humility – accurate thoughts about ourselves and others
    Scripture: Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 5:5, James 3:13, Proverbs 11:3; 15:33

Comments are closed.