At St Benedict School in Mt Torrens, digital screens are nowhere to be found. Instead, students immerse themselves in the timeless teachings of Plato and Aristotle, embracing an education rooted in Ancient Greek philosophy, according to townsvillebulletin.com.au.
The school is part of the growing classical liberal education movement, which emphasizes the philosophical, historical, and literary foundations of Western civilization. Established in early 2024 by members of the Catholic Church of the Holy Name, St Benedict has grown to around 50 students from reception to Year 5.
Principal Fernando Farrugia, who will speak at a national conference on classical education in Adelaide, said, “We don’t want to prepare the students just for the next test, we want to prepare them for life.” While students still follow the Australian Curriculum, including maths and English, classes focus on traditional skills like handwriting and conversation rather than computer use.
“A lot of people say ‘well why are you drawing on things that are old fashioned?’ but I say actually it’s timeless,” Farrugia said. “What we’re doing is not rejecting the modern world, we believe we’re grounding the students in things that last so they can thrive even more in today’s world.”
Without screens, he believes teachers and students can build “a consistent relationship without a screen in the middle.”
Year 5 students Penny, Amba and Lucy say the approach fosters engagement and “deep conversations.” Amba adds it helps them practise “being obedient and showing humility, perseverance and discipline.”
Conference organiser Dr Kevin Donnelly described the movement as one that seeks “beauty and wisdom and truth” through an education that is “intellectually rigorous, morally grounded and emotionally and spiritually enriching.” He argues Western education has “lost its way,” while classical learning restores teachers as subject experts guiding students toward essential knowledge.
Source: townsvillebulletin.com.au
