Classical education enlivens Denver Catholic school

New approach turns around poor financial position, attracts non-Catholics

A statue of Mary is seen at the grotto of
the Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France.
CNS photo / Nancy Wiechec.

Catholic News Agency reports that Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Denver, Colo., has nearly doubled its enrolment in just one year by introducing a classical curriculum.

"This is something people want, and they've wanted it for a long time, and now it's available," principal Rosemary Anderson told CNA Oct. 10.

The school's capacity is 235, and Anderson believes that by the next school year, "we'll have to start wait-listing kids."

Anderson noted that classical education is meant to help students learn how to think, rather than merely teaching them "subjects." The program at Lourdes school was inspired by 20th century author Dorothy Sayers' essay "The Lost Tools of Learning," and the work of Laura Berquist, who was involved in the founding of Thomas Aquinas College, a Catholic university in southern California which uses the classical model.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.