Thales First Principles
As a classical school, we are committed to the inherent value and dignity of all human beings, to educating students to their highest potential, and to providing opportunities for students to succeed to the best of their abilities. The values and virtues of a classical education are grounded in the Judeo-Christian understanding of what it means to be human, in ideas that are further developed by the intellectual traditions of Greco-Roman antiquity and medieval Europe. These ideas persist in America’s intellectual tradition and in the founding documents of the United States, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
As a result, our history classes at Thales Academy place unique emphasis on the Western canon and its ideas of individual rights and ordered liberty. Such fundamental principles include the inherent dignity and value of all human beings and the interdependent relationship between limited government, economic freedom, and the rights of individuals. We are also committed to pursuing, contemplating, and delighting in objective truth, even if human understanding is limited in its ability to understand the truth in its fullness.
At the Junior High and High School levels, we focus on the great works of the Western canon to better understand our own intellectual and cultural heritage and the shape that heritage has given to the world we live in. We study traditions outside of the Western canon to understand our own foundations and to form a bridge with peoples of different countries and cultures in the common, universal pursuit of what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful. This classical identity is capable of uniting people of all backgrounds in the worthwhile and lifelong cultivation of the good life. Such an identity, moreover, is neither secular nor religious in nature; instead, it is classical.
This philosophical foundation gives rise to four different course strands that permeate the curriculum of Thales Academy in general and our history curriculum in particular.
- Natural Order: Teach students to recognize beauty in the order of the universe and the basic principles that govern it, both in the natural realm and the human realm.
- Human Dignity: Teach students to preserve the dignity and uniqueness of every individual in alignment with the imago dei and the attendant concept of natural law.
- Moral Philosophy: Educate students to cultivate practical wisdom (prudence) and the ability to make moral decisions in the Judeo-Christian and Aristotelian tradition.
- Our Intellectual Inheritance: Recognize that as teachers and students at a classical school, we have received as our inheritance the literary and historical treasures of the Western canon.
Accordingly, we hope that our classes may encourage students to admire this intellectual inheritance and appreciate its literary works, its figures, and its ideas of human dignity, individual rights, and the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness.
Thales Academy's academic curriculum is designed to encourage students to achieve excellence. Our course of study provides a firm and balanced foundation for future studies, career success, and fulfillment in life, covering a broad range of content knowledge, real world skills, and character development. At Thales Academy, we:
- Teach how to think and seek the truth
- Cultivate excellent thinkers through the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness
- Teach proven concepts free of government influence
- Foster character development, forming individuals of integrity
- Encourage students to rise to their fullest potential daily
- Help students develop the real world skills needed to contribute in meaningful ways to their communities
- Invite families to join us in creating a supportive and positive school community
- Develop work ethic and discipline that will lead to true freedom
The Thales Academy tagline, "Developing Classical Thinkers," is at the heart of our curriculum and guides everything we teach. At Thales Academy, we embrace classical education, a systematic, rigorous program that develops a student's ability to think critically and deeply about a subject. Classical education is rooted in the pursuit of objective truth and the process of connecting varying types of information to come to a higher understanding. We appreciate the importance of dialogue and discussion in the classroom ensuring students actively engage with the curriculum. Ultimately, it develops the skills needed for analytical problem solving and a lifetime of self-learning. Classical education consists of three distinct chronological phases:
- The Grammar Phase: The first stage of learning, in grades Pre-K–5, in which basic facts are mastered. This stage includes learning the foundational structure of a subject, observation, and memory. Direct Instruction ensures that learning is maximized to the highest and most effective level.
- The Logic Phase: The second stage of learning, in grades 6–8, in which students begin to discover why certain facts exist as certainties. Students begin asking questions, hypothesizing, and debating to determine cause and effect relationships and the deeper meaning of realities. The Socratic Method of discussion is introduced here and continues through grades 9–12.
- The Rhetoric Phase: The final stage of learning, in grades 9–12, in which self-expression and high level communication skills are developed. Basic facts from the Grammar Phase and logical reasoning from the Logic Phase are combined to critically analyze a topic and develop original conclusions. Students practice the art of articulating their thoughts in meaningful and effective ways in order to confidently communicate their message to others. The Thales Academy Senior Thesis is the capstone project of this stage.
At Thales Academy, we are passionate about helping our students attain an excellent foundation that will guide them for years to come. For more information about classical education, see our Resources page.