Liberty Classical School Adds a
Full-Time Classical High School

By Bob Knodel

Liberty Classical School (LCS), once only a tutorial service for area home schoolers, has recently announced that it has become a full-time, diploma granting, classical high school and exceeds not only the minimum state graduation requirements, but also those of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools in all areas except physical education.

“Our goal has always been to support parents in training up a godly generation that would be able to engage the culture at an intellectual level and win it over to a Christian world view,” said Dr. David Vaughan, president of LCS and senior pastor of Liberty Christian Church. “Importantly, we are able to pursue this goal at LCS at a fraction of the price of many other area private schools.” The tuition for LCS is $250 per class, per semester.

“Classical education is the best training of the mind there is,” said Dr. Denis Boyle, board chairman. “The methods we use at LCS develop the higher-level thinking faculties in a way no other known method does.” Dr. Boyle is also an instructor at LCS as well as a practicing biochemist and soon-to-be published author.

LCS, a ministry of Liberty Christian Church in O’Fallon Missouri, opened in 2000 as a classical supplement to home schoolers in the congregation in the tradition of the scholastics. As the school grew, its reputation for academic excellence reached the larger home school community and attracted many students from outside the congregation. While one of its goals is still supporting parents in their home schooling, the elements were already in place to become a full-time high school and the decision was made to do just that.

This upcoming school year, LCS will offer 20 different classes. The focus at LCS stays heavily on the three disciplines of grammar, logic and rhetoric. These elements, which equip the students to attack and master any subject, are weaved throughout all courses. The school, having recently added astronomy to the coursework, meets not only the spirit of the classical Quadrivium, but the literal mathematics, music, geometry, and astronomy requirements giving students a fully rounded, classical education.

Two LCS instructors for this upcoming school year are particularly noted for their out-of-the-classroom experience. Bible Doctrine is taught by Dr. Vaughan, who not only is the president of LCS and a pastor, but is also an author, the host of a radio program and is much in demand as a conference speaker. The other instructor is David Wilson, who teaches Computers 1 and 2. Wilson has spent 20 years in the computer business as a programmer, owner of a computer business, and designer of successful commercial programs. The highlight of his Computers 1 class is the final project, where each student uses lighting, capture and transition techniques to produce his or her own digital documentary.

Beyond an intellectually rigorous, classical curricula and highly experienced teachers, LCS believes it distinguishes itself from other private schools by its educational philosophy: “We believe that God’s character is revealed not only in His Word but also in every facet of the creation. Therefore, we teach that all knowledge is interrelated (integrated) and can instruct us about God Himself.

“God wants us to love Him with our minds, as well as with our hearts, souls, and strength. Therefore, we seek to individually challenge children at all levels and teach them how to learn, by using the proven classical method, incorporating instruction in Latin.

“We want to help parents teach their children that all they do should be done ‘heartily, as unto the Lord.’ Therefore, we seek to encourage quality academic work and maintain high standards of conduct. This includes biblical discipline principles.

“We believe that as long as a child is under the parents’ authority and undergoing formal education, he will be trained biblically.

“Above all, parents can be confident that their student, at every stage of his development in school, will be loved with Christ’s love at Liberty Classical School.”

Classes begin on August 20. The tuition for each course is $250 per semester. If semester tuition is paid one week before the start of the semester there is a 10% discount. You can get additional information and register online at www.libertyclassicalschool.com or by calling (636) 240-4412.