Wisdom and Eloquence: Integration and Inspiration

By Christina Walker

It’s been a minute since we visited Wisdom and Eloquence, but now we’re going to start the series back up.

From its beginning, The Geneva School has implemented the classical model of education, which focuses on the mastery of the liberal arts during the course of a student’s K4–12th grade Geneva career. During the medieval period, the liberal arts consisted of seven disciplines—grammar, dialectic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music—which were taught and learned as interconnected rather than isolated or separate disciplines. For the better part of the last 2,500 years, great thinkers have understood that the different arts are interrelated and that a keen grasp of this concept will help students as they study and learn (i.e., it makes learning easier).

If you have read about classical education, you have probably heard the words trivium and quadrivium. Historically speaking, the trivium is made up of the three language arts (the subjects of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric), and the quadrivium is made up of the mathematical arts (the subjects of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music). There is great beauty in the meaning of the words trivium and quadrivium—the three-way crossroad and the four-way crossroad. Hugo of St. Victor, a twelfth-century ecclesiastical scholar, wrote about the seven liberal arts, calling them “‘the best tools, the fittest entrance through which the way to philosophic truth is opened to our intellect. Hence the names trivium and quadrivium, because here the robust mind progresses as if upon roads or paths to the secrets of wisdom.’” (from Didascalicum, quoted in Wisdom and Eloquence, p. 31)

Although minor changes have occurred over time, the fundamental paradigm has remained the same: building on foundational knowledge in all of the disciplines, working towards mastery of language and mathematical arts. Through this mastery, and, even more importantly, viewing these studies through a Christian lens as they grow in knowledge in their biblical studies, students grow in wisdom and hone their communication skills so that they are able to be heavenly minded and do great earthly good.

Applying the ideas in chapter two of Wisdom and Eloquence to a Christian classical education leads to these goals:

  • Creating independent, lifelong learners by teaching students how to think, not just what to think
  • Integrating the disciplines
  • Teaching the liberal arts and sciences to children of all ages with age-appropriate curricula
  • Inspiring students to explore, discover, and continue to learn beyond the classroom

Geneva strives to reach these goals in the following ways:

  • Teachers develop fluent readers who are able to read with automaticity, which lays the groundwork for deeper comprehension and understanding; readers also develop a strong sense of right and wrong.
  • Students in every grade learn how subjects and disciplines are interrelated: math and music are intricately and intrinsically intertwined; literature can be better understood by studying the historical context in which it was written, and the two are inherently connected; the same can be said of history and scientific discovery.
  • All subjects are taught to each student, using age-appropriate methods and language, from K4 through senior year.
  • Students experience what they are learning inside and outside of the classroom through special feast days, culminating events, and field trips that bring classroom lessons to life in hands-on ways.

Here are just some of the special days and field trips that students experience during their years at The Geneva School:

  • Seafood tasting in K4
  • Kindergarten store
  • Florida Native Festival in first grade
  • Velveteen Rabbit sewing day in second grade
  • Greek Olympics in third grade
  • Viking Day in fourth grade
  • George Washington’s birthday ball in fifth grade
  • Hobbit Day in sixth grade
  • The North Florida trip in seventh grade
  • The Everglades trip in ninth grade
  • Math and science classes that have students outside testing and proving theories
  • Reading Macbeth aloud in English class and going to see a Shakespeare play annually at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater
  • Senior thesis presentations
The Geneva School
The Geneva School
September 22, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Moms In Prayer

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • 3-6 Grade PickleBall

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Typing (4th-8th Grade)

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Talent Show Auditions

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6 Grade Volleyball Away Match vs. St. Luke's Green

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Home Game vs. OCS Red

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Home Game vs. TMA 2

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

September 23, 2025
  • 5th Gr - St. Augustine Trip

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 6:30 am- 3:30 pm
    See more details

  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • K4 Giocoso Music

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Fun with Food (1st-2nd Grade)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis 5-6 Grade with Luke

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis K-6th Grade w Stefanie

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Volleyball 4th Grade Girls (Riley)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • K Giocoso Music

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Talent Show Auditions

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Away vs. Orangewood

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Golf Home Match vs Lake Mary Prep

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

September 24, 2025
  • 3rd Gr - Despereaux Day

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 8:20 am- 8:45 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • K Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Grade Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Geneva Cheer (2nd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Golf Away Match vs Trinity Prep

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS XC Meet - Citrus League at Trinity Prep

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

September 25, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • K4 Art Adventures

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 1:45 pm- 2:45 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Soccer Training

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Sports 4-6 Beach Volleyball

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-2nd Grade Art Adventures

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio Orff Ensemble (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Home Match vs. Mount Dora

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Swim Meet vs. Winter Park HS & Olympia

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Home Match vs. Holy Cross

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs. Holy Cross JV

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • DL Football Away Game vs All Saints (Winter Haven)

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. Holy Cross JV

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

September 26, 2025
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • 4th Gr - Monastery Day

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Fathers Watch

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • K Art Adventures

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis K-6Grade with Stefanie

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs. Spruce Creek

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs. Atlantic

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Football Away Game vs. Cornerstone

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

September 22, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • Moms In Prayer

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 8:15 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • 3-6 Grade PickleBall

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Typing (4th-8th Grade)

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Talent Show Auditions

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • 5/6 Grade Volleyball Away Match vs. St. Luke's Green

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Home Game vs. OCS Red

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball Blue Team Home Game vs. TMA 2

    Date: September 22, 2025 - September 22, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

September 23, 2025
  • 5th Gr - St. Augustine Trip

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 6:30 am- 3:30 pm
    See more details

  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • K4 Giocoso Music

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Fun with Food (1st-2nd Grade)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis 5-6 Grade with Luke

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis K-6th Grade w Stefanie

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Volleyball 4th Grade Girls (Riley)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • K Giocoso Music

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Philharmonia Orchestra (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Talent Show Auditions

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Away vs. Orangewood

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Golf Home Match vs Lake Mary Prep

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 3:45 pm- 5:45 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Home Match vs. ICS

    Date: September 23, 2025 - September 23, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

September 24, 2025
  • 3rd Gr - Despereaux Day

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Lower School Chapel

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 8:20 am- 8:45 am
    See more details

  • Upper School Chapel

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 9:25 am- 10:10 am
    See more details

  • K4 Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 1:15 pm- 2:15 pm
    See more details

  • K Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-3rd Grade Garden Club

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Geneva Cheer (2nd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • 3rd–6th Gr - NHS Tutoring

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Stitch Lab (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:20 pm- 4:20 pm
    See more details

  • Girls Golf Away Match vs Trinity Prep

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • MS XC Meet - Citrus League at Trinity Prep

    Date: September 24, 2025 - September 24, 2025
    Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

September 25, 2025
  • Geneva Jazz

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • K4 Art Adventures

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 1:45 pm- 2:45 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Soccer Training

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Sports 4-6 Beach Volleyball

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • 1st-2nd Grade Art Adventures

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm
    See more details

  • Percussio Orff Ensemble (3rd-6th Grade)

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Boys Golf Home Match vs. Mount Dora

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Swim Meet vs. Winter Park HS & Olympia

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm
    See more details

  • MS Volleyball White Team Home Match vs. Holy Cross

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
    See more details

  • Freshman Volleyball Home Match vs. Holy Cross JV

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
    See more details

  • DL Football Away Game vs All Saints (Winter Haven)

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm
    See more details

  • JV Volleyball Home Match vs. Holy Cross JV

    Date: September 25, 2025 - September 25, 2025
    Time: 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm
    See more details

September 26, 2025
  • Chamber Orchestra

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 7:15 am- 8:15 am
    See more details

  • 4th Gr - Monastery Day

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 2:50 pm
    See more details

  • Fathers Watch

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 8:00 am- 9:30 am
    See more details

  • K Art Adventures

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 2:15 pm- 3:15 pm
    See more details

  • Youth Tennis K-6Grade with Stefanie

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs. Spruce Creek

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Volleyball Away Match vs. Atlantic

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
    See more details

  • Varsity Football Away Game vs. Cornerstone

    Date: September 26, 2025 - September 26, 2025
    Time: 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
    See more details

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