The Teens of Freedom (Jacob)

Hi guys,
It's us, the Williamsburg students. We have decided to start a blog to share our opinions, what we believe, and to start using our voices to change the world. Here are some Philosophy's that we believe at Williamsburg. Please take time to visit the website at www.wacademy.org thanks!
(By the way I got all of this info on our website.)

The Liberal Arts
Liberty is only possible for those who are disciplined in the arts of liberty—or, the liberal arts. Free nations and free people understand the great ideas expounded throughout history, and they appreciate the great lives of those before; they think for themselves and persuasively communicate their ideas to others; they understand their stewardship over the earth and their own potential for leadership; they are steeped in grammar, logic and rhetoric.

All of these skills are uniquely human! They give us the ability to lead our families, communities, social and religious organizations, and to serve in America’s democratic institutions. At Williamsburg, students develop these skills through studying U.S. History, Government, Western Civilization, American and British Literature, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Leadership, and more.

Liberal Education and the Classics
Our culture is the product of thousands of years of development. We believe the best approach to liberal education is through persistent engagement with the ideas that have shaped this culture. These ideas are found in what many scholars call “the classics,” and they preserve the very best that has been thought, said, or accomplished in history. In addition to books, classics include any and all masterful artistic works that have contributed to the development of society.
Because we believe that all true knowledge is connected, we integrate, rather than compartmentalize the subject areas of our curriculum. With this broad understanding, the liberally educated mind can trace the development of ideas through history and understand how they shaped Western Civilization. This is “the great conversation” and the liberally educated understand it and can participate in the current debate.

Liberal Education and Leadership
Leadership, the ability to positively transform individuals, families, businesses, communities, government, religion, media, and the arts, springs from individuals who have learned to recognize their unique gifts and feel a strong sense of personal mission regarding how those gifts are to be used to benefit mankind. Leaders courageously undertake incredible objectives because they have a large repertoire of past experiences to draw from in which their limits have been tested and their greatness has shone. Many great leaders have had the benefit of mentors who helped them recognize and cultivate their unique gifts and have nurtured their sense of personal mission.
At the Academy students gain hands-on leadership experience by involvement in the Outdoor Program, student-led projects, class presentations, in-class simulations and other leadership projects. These activities are engaging and provide venues for students to practice leadership.

Liberal Education in the Outdoors
We believe that nature is an indispensable mentor for youth. Nature takes youth out of their day-to-day activities and places them face to face with God’s creations, causing them to ask personal and significant questions about the origin and purpose of life. Students often come away from activities in nature with a deepened sense of their own existence and a more profound respect for life.
Nature also has a perfect accountability system. It does not bend, but must be bent to. It will produce abundantly if nurtured, but it refuses to be coerced. Nature teaches students the importance of physical and mental preparation, and it helps students develop the ability to rapidly adapt to changes.
Multi-day backpacking treks, rock climbs, canyoneering expeditions, and rappels have a way of bringing out students’ natural leadership abilities. Students learn to be responsible for the food, water, physical safety, and emotional health of themselves and others. They get used to high-risk situations and learn to perform under pressure. Their endurance, physical and mental strength, balance and agility are tested and enhanced. Students also gain insight into their lives and relationships during guided solo time in nature, away from other students and far away from ipods, make-up, email or cell phones. See Elevation on our Seminars page.

Role of the Mentor
Mentors are at the center of a liberal arts education. Mentors model scholarship and leadership, they teach, coach, provide academic accountability, and inspire students to be their best. Mentors can often reach where parents and traditional teachers cannot. In addition to a student’s official mentor, some mentoring will inevitably come from other students, the great men and women from history, and, of course, God.
All education is self-education, and learning best occurs when mentors personalize the program for each student. At the Academy the mentor regularly meets with students for individual mentoring sessions. Mentors and students discuss the students’ unique gifts and interests and personalize the program accordingly. Students set goals and make commitments and mentors hold students accountable.

Role of the Parent
Williamsburg Academy honors parental stewardship of their children. Respectfully, we work to support and assist parents in educating their children. We frequently communicate with and include parents in their children’s educational experience.
The environment of learning established in the home will greatly affect a student’s attitude and ability to learn. We recommend parents take an active role in accountability, guiding, supporting, and encouraging their children in their studies and preparation for life. Parents should familiarize themselves with the Academy’s programs and do what they can to read and discuss with their children often.

We will start posting our thoughts, projects, and much more. So please visit the website and take a look at Williamsburg.

Thanks,
Jacob