The Paideia Difference

A Complete Education

Science and Math are important.

So is studying the humanities.

So is sport and the arts.

At Paideia Learning, we believe sport and the arts are essential to the development of the whole person.

The importance of the arts

We know that exploring beauty, creativity, and self-expression through the arts touches the heart of people in a way Math and Science can not. Ignoring the heart of our children is dangerous. As C.S. Lewis warns, “we make men without chests and ask of them virtue and enterprise.” When we ignore the heart and make only skeptics, we should expect a world where intellectuals act as machines without consideration of compassion for others.

As Dr. Edward Fiske explains, the arts reach students not normally reached, in ways and methods not normally used.  It changes the learning environment to one of discovery and helps students better connect with each other.

the divinity of sports

The research is clear - exercise builds the brain.

• Educating the Student Body explored the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive processes. The researchers found that physical activity and higher aerobic fitness enhanced basic cognitive functions related to attention and memory facilitate learning.

• John Ratey, M.D. also looked to understand the connection between aerobic activity and learning. Among other things, he looked specifically at how routinely exercising improved focus on concentration for people with ADHD.

Sports are important and not just because they improve tests scores. There are things that young people learn through sport that is difficult to learn anywhere else. Athletics improve concentration, cognition, mental health, and self-esteem. Sport teaches you about triumph and defeat. It teaches you how to fail and try again. It teaches you how to be reliable, how to fight, how to adapt and how to work hard. It requires self-discipline, perseverance, and mental strength.