Dialectic School (7th & 8th Grade)

The liberal art of dialectic is the skill of thinking. It is the skill of reasoning, questioning, and arguing in a way that intentionally recognizes grammatical and logical rules and honestly seeks what is true.

All students are thinkers. From the time children can speak at all, they express a desire to know. Filled with wonder, they are inquisitive and like to ask the question “Why?” As students approach their teens, though, this inquisitiveness becomes more pronounced. They realize that not all reasons are equally reasonable. They want verification, demonstration, and justification that a suggestion or explanation is correct. They begin to enjoy arguing. While this intellectual attribute can manifest itself as an irritation or even as disrespect, it is properly part of maturing and needs to be nourished.

In the dialectic school (seventh and eighth grades), one of our chief aims is to nourish our students’ minds by training them to find arguments and distinguish the ones that are sound from the ones that are not. One way of accomplishing this is to give them formal training in logic, teaching them how to discern fallacies and how to construct valid arguments. More pervasive in our curriculum during these years, though, is a method of teaching and learning that focuses on training the student to ask and to follow questions. This method is commonly called “Socratic,” named for one of the earliest philosophers, Socrates, who used questions both to learn and to instruct.  Beyond simply asking “why?” we want our students to habituate asking and following questions that concern more particular categories like definition, comparison, cause, and purpose.

This skill of asking and following questions is prevalent in all of the courses in the dialectic school. In every class, the student is exposed to teachers who model Socratic instruction and to assignments that are intentional in requiring that they find and follow the most significant questions of the discipline. The skill of dialectic is a major source for integration across the curriculum in these grades.

We do not engage in busywork in the dialectic school. There are no assignments that are meant simply to give the students something to do to keep them quiet and behaving properly. Too often, it is the case with seventh and eighth grade instruction that it is focused on delivering information but does not instruct in how to question. Students may learn facts and collect data from this approach, but they will not learn how to find and understand the arguments that would give any enduring meaning to those facts. It does not take long for teenage students to become cynical about this type of education, and rightfully so, as it stunts their intellectual maturity.

Given our commitment to and confession of Christian orthodoxy, the content of what we teach is Christ-centered. It is common for seventh and eighth graders to begin having questions concerning God and what it means to have personal faith. In the dialectic school, we focus on training students to find and follow questions and arguments so that their minds can be properly sharpened and renewed and so that their hearts can be drawn toward those things that are true and meaningful. Ultimately, this means training our students how to find and follow Christ, the true source for and the answer to all of our deepest questions.

The Geneva School
The Geneva School
March 18, 2024
  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • Auction 2024 Volunteer Meeting

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 10:30 am- 11:30 am
    See more details

  • Youth Basketball - Tony Medina Ingram Gym

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Golf K4-2nd Grade (playground cement area and side of LS building grass area)

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • LS NHS Tutoring

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Home Game vs. TFA Leesburg

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Baseball Away Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

March 19, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • US Praise and Prayer

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 7:30 am- 8:00 am
    See more details

  • Youth Volleyball 2-6 Girls

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Softball Away Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Away Game vs. Holy Trinity

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

March 20, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
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  • US Chapel

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
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  • Youth Track K4-Kindergarten 2:30-3:15; 1-5 3:15-4:15PM

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 2:30 pm- 4:15 pm
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  • Brioso Choir

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
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  • Dialectic Parent Book Club w/Ryan Sharp

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • NHS Tutoring

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

March 21, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Auction 2024 Volunteer Meeting

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:50 pm
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  • Youth Sports Coed Flag Football

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity / JV / MS Tennis Home Match vs. Geneva

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Beach Volleyball Home Match vs Round lake Charter

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Away Game vs. Merritt Island Christian

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

March 22, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • Fathers Watch

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:30 am
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  • Partnering for Excellence Series

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:15 am
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  • US Arts Festival

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 1:30 pm- 3:15 pm
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  • Varsity Track FSU Relay - Qualifier Only

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 3:00 pm- 8:00 pm
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  • Strategy & Board Games Club

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 5:20 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Track Meet Astronaut Invite

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Baseball Home Game vs. Merritt Island Christian

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

March 18, 2024
  • Moms in Prayer

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • Auction 2024 Volunteer Meeting

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 10:30 am- 11:30 am
    See more details

  • Youth Basketball - Tony Medina Ingram Gym

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Golf K4-2nd Grade (playground cement area and side of LS building grass area)

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • LS NHS Tutoring

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 3:25 pm- 4:10 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Home Game vs. TFA Leesburg

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Baseball Away Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: March 18, 2024 - March 18, 2024
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

March 19, 2024
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • US Praise and Prayer

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 7:30 am- 8:00 am
    See more details

  • Youth Volleyball 2-6 Girls

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Softball Away Game vs. Lake Highland Prep

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Away Game vs. Holy Trinity

    Date: March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

March 20, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • US Chapel

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • Youth Track K4-Kindergarten 2:30-3:15; 1-5 3:15-4:15PM

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 2:30 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Brioso Choir

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Dialectic Parent Book Club w/Ryan Sharp

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • NHS Tutoring

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

March 21, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Auction 2024 Volunteer Meeting

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:50 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Sports Coed Flag Football

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity / JV / MS Tennis Home Match vs. Geneva

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 3:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • JV Beach Volleyball Home Match vs Round lake Charter

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Baseball Away Game vs. Merritt Island Christian

    Date: March 21, 2024 - March 21, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

March 22, 2024
  • 5th Grade Science Trip

    Date: March 20, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 12:00 am- 11:59 pm
    See more details

  • Fathers Watch

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • Partnering for Excellence Series

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:15 am
    See more details

  • US Arts Festival

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 1:30 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Track FSU Relay - Qualifier Only

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 3:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • Strategy & Board Games Club

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 3:20 pm- 5:20 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Track Meet Astronaut Invite

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Baseball Home Game vs. Merritt Island Christian

    Date: March 22, 2024 - March 22, 2024
    Time: 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

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