Wisdom and Eloquence

This blog title has been borrowed from a book of the same name by Robert Littlejohn and Charles Evans. It is a phrase that sums up what I believe we are doing at Wildwood. Every time you log onto the Headmaster's blog, I want you to see that what we want for your student is wisdom and eloquence.

The question that we as a staff always ask is: When we are done with our work, what should the finished "product" look like? What is it that we want for each student who comes through our program?

For any who think this results in "cookie-cutter students" you must remember that the question comes in the context of the image-bearing character of each individual, and in the context of Christian convictions. Each student must be permitted his unique interests and abilities while at the same time receiving the time tested tools of thinking and learning. Irrespective of his degree of skill he must be aided in his acquisition of wisdom and eloquence and aided in his application of these in his calling.

Wisdom and eloquence come with much exercise of looking at the world through a Biblical perspective. Because a worldview is a network of presuppositions about life and how we engage it, the student must be taught to discern what the basic presuppositions are in nearly every field of study. Doing this at the high school level is only a beginning, however. In the words of others: when the student finishes here, it's not the finish line, it's the starter's gun.

In eleven years of operation, we have seen such an outcome in dozens of students. If wisdom and eloquence is the desire, for all involved, teachers, staff, parents and students, it has been a worthy pursuit.