Rhetoric School (10th-12th Grade)
The School of Rhetoric is comprised of grades 10-12, and it is the final phase of a student’s education in the Trivium (the three language-oriented Liberal Arts), though by no means the end of all that may be learned about them or by them. Building on the skills learned from their training in formal logic and classical composition, students now begin formal training in Rhetoric (the art and science of persuasion via the written and spoken word). One classical orator, named Quintillian, emphasized that Rhetoric is about “the good man speaking well.” In other words, our hope is to join a virtuous life with the skills of persuasiveness so that our students go into all the world, bearing the name of Christ, speaking up for what is true, good, and beautiful.
Distinctive features of the Rhetoric School
Some Rhetoric students may be invited to become “house officers” within Caritas’ house system. This will enable certain students to gain leadership experience and to provide mentorship to younger students.
Rhetoric students will be encouraged (and required) to speak more frequently, in front of their peers and adults, on a wide variety of matters of interest to a classical education, thereby gaining comfortability in front of audiences.
Students will spend particular time analyzing great speeches throughout history and great pieces of persuasive writing so as to learn from “the greats” how to be advocates for truth.