It’s the Principle of the Thing: Biblical Classical Education, Principle Approach and the Noah Plan

elizabethamiller0
Dec 23, 2020
1 min read

Updated: Jan 28, 2021

The Principle Approach is a term coined by the Foundation for American Christian Education, the publisher’s of the Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the Principle Approach founding books and the Noah Plan curriculum.

The principle approach is using biblical principles by applying them to every subject. The principles specifically laid out are as follows.

God’s Principle of Individuality

The Principle of Christian Self-Government

The Seed Principle

The Principle of Christian Character

The Christian Idea of Civil Government

The Christian Principle of Property

The Principle of Unity

In any given subject, the student/researcher uses “the 4 R’s” to find how the subject relates back to a biblical principle.

The 4 R’s are

Research

Reason

Relate

Record

Primary tools of the principle approach are the Bible and the Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Essentially students do word studies using their bible and their dictionary to connect back to the biblical principles.

The following aspects are also part of the principle approach in practice through the Noah Plan curriculum.

Note-booking

Classic literature

Logic and Rhetoric

French and Latin

Providential History

There are several what are called “demonstration schools” for the Noah Plan curriculum and the Principle Approach. The one that I found the most helpful resources through is Dayspring Christian Academy based out of Lancaster, PA.

The videos of their annual student orations about brought me to tears and confirmed for me I had found the approach to education I wanted to follow.

I am by no means an expert in this method, but if you would like to know more, the links below will be helpful. I also recommend looking up Biblical Classical Homeschoolers on Facebook.