II.

VCA has chosen to implement a Classical Christian Curriculum

Classical education is a time-tested model of learning that has been practiced for more than 2,000 years. Its roots can be traced to the ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία (enkyklios paideia) of ancient Greek education and the work of thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Hippocrates. It later developed into the liberal artes of Roman education, was incorporated into early Christian education, and was further developed during the Medieval Renaissance into the Trivium and Quadrivium. Over time, these traditions were adapted into what is now known as Classical Christian Education. Although classical education has sometimes been dismissed as outdated, its emphasis on cultivating wisdom, virtue, reason, and character remains highly relevant. Unlike educational models that may focus primarily on economic outcomes or practical skills, classical Christian education seeks to form the whole person—mind, character, and faith

Classical Christian Education therefore seeks to draw wisdom from the great works of the past while examining all learning through the truth and authority of Scripture. This purpose of education was reflected in the writings of Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536), a Christian humanist of the Renaissance who greatly influenced the intellectual world of the Reformation.

Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam (1523) by Hans Holbein the Younger.

In On the Education of Children (1529), he wrote:

“It is an undeniable fact that a man whose reason has not been trained through philosophy and sound learning becomes a creature lower than the beasts, for there is no animal more savage or dangerous than a man driven back and forth by ambition, lust, anger, envy, or wild temperament.”

Erasmus recognized that education should not merely impart knowledge but should also cultivate reason, moral character, and virtue. He valued the wisdom found in classical literature, even in works written before Christianity, and rejected the idea that all pre-Christian writings were inherently pagan or contrary to biblical truth.

Liberal Arts or liberales artes in Latin, means "to liberate"—referring to being freed from rigid limitations or conventional boundaries.

Liberal arts education emphasizes the importance of developing holistic thinking with the goal of shaping individuals who are ethical, noble in character, broad-minded, and capable of distilling complex ideas into clear, simple language through self-directed learning.

The word “arts” in “liberal arts” should not be narrowly interpreted as referring only to the fine arts such as music, painting, or sculpture. Rather, “arts” here refers to the craft of thinking—the unique work of intellectual originality born from the courage to think critically and reason sharply. This capacity enables individuals to become lifelong learners, creators, and contributors to society.

The Trivium meaning “three paths” in Latin, describes three stages of learning that develop the essential tools for thinking, learning, and communicating. Together, they cultivate a lifelong love of learning, creativity, and purposeful work.

Grammar: curiosity and foundational knowledge.

Logic: reasoning, understanding, and critical thinking.

Rhetoric: wisdom and virtue, expressed through clear, creative, and meaningful communication.

The Trivium has its roots in medieval education and was reintroduced to modern education by Christian scholar Dorothy L. Sayers in her 1947 Oxford address, The Lost Tools of Learning. She argued that education should teach students not only what to learn, but how to learn.

THE BIBLE, WORLD HISTORY (“HIS-STORY”), AND CLASSICAL LITERATURE

The VCA curriculum is purposefully designed so that Bible, History, and Classical Literature become the central pillars of both the liberal arts and the Trivium. Through the teaching and learning process, parents, teachers, and students will recognize the inseparable connection between the Bible—which tells of God’s creation and divine design for the world, the fall of man, and the second chance given to humanity through salvation in Jesus Christ (“His-story”)—and how this “His-story” is the thread that runs through all of human history.

This divine narrative helps us see God’s role throughout the course of history, as also reflected in the writings of classical authors in every age. Altogether, these stories form a kind of “university of knowledge,” where truth, beauty, and virtue are discovered and explored.

An education rooted in and founded upon God’s Word teaches children to develop wisdom, virtue, and clarity—especially as they face an overwhelming flood of information in the modern world. It prepares them to pause and reflect, to think critically, and to act with discernment, choosing their path and response based on thoughtful, godly conviction.

Location

Park Royale, Tower 3 Ground Floor Lobby
Jl. Jendral Gatot Subroto Kav. 35-39
Jakarta 10210

CONTACT

INFORMATION

how to get in touch with us

Phone Number

+62-215724677

Email Address

vickery@vca.sch.id