Tried and True

Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was martyred in A.D. 155. According to the account of his martyrdom, when he had been asked to swear upon the name of the emperor, he boldy replied, "If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you are ignorant who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the doctrine of Christianity fix a day and listen."

His was not an arrogant response, but it was bold. As a Classical and Christian school, The Summit Academy makes a similar announcement to all who suggest that other types of schools can do just as well educating our children. At a board/staff training, Andrew Kern of the Circe Institute observed that what the education market desperately needs is a school that will plant its flag and say, "This is what true education looks like. If you want to be a part of it, come on. We'll show you how, because we have not compromised."

Does this mean that our school or any other never makes mistakes? Of course not. But unlike schools that follow the fad of the day, we find our model in theory that has been proven right in practice for more than a thousand years. We welcome all who would be part of this grand adventure in education...students, parents, and other educators alike. Note that we are not inviting anyone to an experiment in education. This is not a trial, a test, an exploration to see if something may work. We know that it does.

At the end of the 6th century B.C., Horatius Cocles realized that he could save Rome if but two others would join him at the narrow entrance to a bridge leading into the city. His words, idealized and immortalized at the turn of the last century by Thomas Babington Macaulay, ring out to us today.

In yon strait path a thousand

May well be stopped by three.

Now who will stand on my right hand

And keep the bridge with me?