Parnassus will develop graduates who are:
- critical thinkers
- coherent writers
- confident speakers
- thoughtful leaders; and
- responsible, compassionate, and virtuous citizens.
Parnassus provides an engaging learning environment where all students enjoy learning and develop life-long learning skills. As they develop their intellects and moral habits they will internalize truth, beauty, and goodness.
Critical Thinkers
Independent thinkers: If a student were asked to read Plato, Virgil, Augustine, Aquinas, or Locke because there would be a test on the content, the student would likely find these thinkers uninteresting. Our students read with a purpose. Like a treasure hunt, they are looking for the connections and development of ideas that span all great literature.
Coherent Writers
Being “coherent” in the way you write means that everything in your writing is logically laid out and connected. Parnassus scholars will express themselves clearly and continuously through their essays and writings.
Confident Speakers
Simply put, those who communicate well have a tremendous advantage in life. Many skills and talents lie undeveloped and many ideas remain untried because an individual cannot express his or her ideas clearly and persuasively. The ancient Greeks realized this and thus began the study of rhetoric. Our students study logic and, they will more fully engage in debates, defend their ideas intelligently, and will practice the art of expression throughout the School of Rhetoric – both orally and in writing.
Thoughtful Leaders
We also strive to develop thoughtful leaders. The term “thoughtful leaders” can be interpreted as those who think deeply or as those who are considerate of the needs of others. Both of these character traits will be pursued and developed by the classical scholar.
Virtuous Citizens
Aristotle identifies ethical virtue as “a habit, disposed toward action by deliberate choice, being at the mean relative to us, and defined by reason as a prudent man would define it.” According to Aristotle, “virtues arise in us neither by nature nor contrary to nature; but by our nature can we receive them and perfect them by habituation.” Parnassus upholds ethical virtue.