Reflections on Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning

I completed Wilson's Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning a few moments ago.  By and large, I enjoyed the book however I don't agree with everything Wilson wrote.  Then again, I don't agree with everything anyone writes, I guess that makes me human and an induvidualist - a true product of the American West.  And that is one of Wilson's main arguments in the book, education has duped us in to thinking we are really thinking when in fact we are just parroting out the same things that others believe, just like I think I am unique, but when everyone is unique, unique is just another name for "the same."


Wilson establishes a strong basis for the need of Christian education, grounded in a Christian worldview.  It is not enough to return to the Leave it to Beaver school system of the 1950's.  Schools 60 years ago still functioned off the same worldview that public schools are using today - if you educate them, you can save them.  Education has become the god of the secular society, but unfortunately education was never seen as imparting the ability to think and reason on one's own.  Education in the temple of secularism, is seen as reciting facts and figures and trusting the experts to tell you what to do, say and believe.

I see that at work in our world.  Why else would we have animal psychologists who specialize in dogs but can't work with cats, or special education teachers who feel incapable of teaching their kindergarten to count to five?  This is the result of not being willing or able to think, and always trusting the expert with funny initials following their name.

If you jive with this basic assessment of schooling and believe that the core worldview of public schools is incorrect then you will appreciate the second half of the book where the author discusses the classical approach using the Trivium and Quadrivium.  The statistics are startling how classically trained students not only excel but far surpass their contemporaries.  Wilson shows a strong argument for the need to study Latin and Greek and even relates that to modern life (for those who are skeptical).

Unfortunately, the author sees homeschooling as second best to a solid Christian school.  Here I would disagree, and even hi critique of home-schooling appears informed by mostly ill equipped parents.  But college educated parents should have no problem taking their children through a classical education, will it be work?  Yes! Will it be hard? Yes! Will it be worth it?  Yes! And that will put us in the same sphere as our children showing them that learning is work, but it is worth ever bit of it.

If you are a parent considering the educational options for your children, I would heartily recommend the book but also urge you to read up on Homeschooling as well, then balance the two arguments and see which side the scale falls on as the Lord leads you.