Review: Steadfast Press high school curriculum

Nicholas Dames has taught Literature Humanities, Columbia University’s required great-books course, since 1998. Over the past decade, he’s noticed a change among his students: They’ve become overwhelmed by the reading. One first-year student shared with him that, at her public high school, she had never been asked to read a single book cover to cover. “My jaw dropped,” Dames told Rose Horowitch. https://theatln.tc/m3YaGD03

Though no comprehensive data exist on this trend, the majority of the 33 professors that Horowitch spoke with relayed a similar experience: Students are shutting down when confronted with ideas they don’t understand; they struggle to get through challenging texts like they used to; they can’t stay focused on even a sonnet. “It’s not that they don’t want to do the reading,” Horowitch writes, “it’s that they don’t know how.”

One explanation is that middle- and high-school students are encountering fewer and fewer books in the classroom. But the decline in reading abilities may also be explained by a shift in values rather than in skill sets. “Students today are far more concerned about their job prospects than they were in the past,” Horowitch continues—and even if students enjoy what they’re learning in literature courses, one professor told her, they want a degree in something that seems more useful for their career. “The same factors that have contributed to declining enrollment in the humanities might lead students to spend less time reading in the courses they do take.”

Read the full story on how a generation of college students stopped reading, from The Atlantic’s November issue: https://theatln.tc/m3YaGD03 (Source)

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be un-read

Are you surprised by this news? I’m not. For years, public education in many, many schools has resorted to teaching kids from short paragraphs pulled from classic books, or “informational text” as they call it. High school students aren’t learning to read and discuss whole books: they’re given small parts of a book, a summary, and a list of questions to ponder.

This is so sad, but it’s also robbing kids of beautiful works, history, and culture. They’re not connecting the famous works of millenia with the history of the world. They don’t know how one generation’s actions influenced the next. They’re not fully educated.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to get your kids out the public schools. Even teachers are bemoaning the dismal decline in high school education standards and practices. Students are given iPads and Chromebooks, not books. Everything is tech-driven. STEM is king.

Related Post: Why high school at home is vital for Christian families

You can turn this around. You can provide your high school students with a full, rich education in history and humanities at home. All you need is a good curriculum to guide you, and Steadfast Press is the place to start.

I was recently given the opportunity to look over all four years of the Steadfast Press History and Humanities as well as Literature and Composition. I was so excited by what I found! It’s a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything a high schooler needs besides math and science, wrapped up entirely with a biblical worldview: history (both world and American), geography, composition, literature, government, philosophy, Bible, worldview, political theory, and apologetics. In fact, when a student completes all four years of Steadfast, they will receive 18 high school credits. All you need to add is science and math. And along the way, your students trace the thread of history from creation to 21st century postmodernism.

Listen to my interview with Carol and Jennifer, the creators of Steadfast, on the Nicki Truesdell Podcast.

Steadfast Mission Statement

Steadfast trains high schoolers to think biblically, reason soundly, and write clearly, evaluating history and culture through the lens of the Gospel. Steadfast provides a Christ-centered, academically rigorous course of study appropriate for homeschool and private school use. Over the course of four years, Steadfast follows the flow of Western Civilization from Creation to the 21st century, prioritizing spiritual formation and breadth of study. Steadfast prepares students to defend their faith, engage with culture, and make a difference in the world as Christ’s ambassadors.

Read more on the About page.

How it works

Student and teacher each have their own notebook for History and Humanities and for Literature and Composition. There is also a Student Weekly Planner notebook available. In four days a week, students are introduced to a portion of history or scripture through primary sources and classic works, studying the text and thinking through all aspects of it. Along the way, students are assigned various projects to demonstrate their understanding of the topics. You’ll find a book list at the beginning of each year, as well as suggested videos titles to accompany many lessons. the History and Literature courses correlate with each other perfectly.

• Studies in Year One include the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Steadfast trains students to discern truth, to think biblically, and to reason soundly. Steadfast Year One Literature & Composition, students read some of the oldest documents known to Western Civilization delving into their historical and cultural significance.
• Steadfast Year Two begins with Roman antiquity and the fall of Rome, and studies progress through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation. Special emphasis is given to the humanities, including religion, history, philosophy, and the arts. During Steadfast Year Two Literature & Composition, students explore medieval, renaissance, and reformation literature. They read some of the earliest English literary documents, as well as study texts from Renaissance and Reformation legends: Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, and Bunyan.
• Steadfast Year Three shifts the primary focus from the continent of Europe to the New World. Students follow the effects of the Reformation and its impact on colonial America as well as the new moves of God – the Great Awakening and the Second Great Awakening. As they study the birth of the United States, students examine the documents that shaped our nation, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They learn about the government created by the Founding Fathers, how it functions, and how they can be informed, involved citizens of this great and exceptional country today. While learning about the history of our democracy, they are also staying abreast of current events and legislation and assessing them in light of biblical truth. In Steadfast Year Three Literature & Composition, students read literature influenced by exploration, colonization, and western expansionism, as well as source documents that inspired the birth of a nation and its westward movement across a continent.
• Steadfast Year Four is the apex of our studies where students can see how the historical progression of Western Civilization has brought us to where we are today. Year Four focuses on the major political, philosophical, religious, and artistic events and trends of the 19th-21st centuries. Students learn the basis of an ever increasing list of -ISMs, from naturalism, socialism, empiricism, nihilism, existentialism, pantheism, atheism, and globalism to postmodernism (and everything in between) and contrast them with biblical theism. Steadfast prepares students to refute the claims of evolution and to uphold the biblical narrative of Creation. Students learn about landmark Supreme Court cases and follow their impact on society today. Students discuss current events and major issues of the day, such as the rise of socialism, secularism, political agendas, immigration, racism, abortion, gender identity, artificial intelligence, and the impact of social media on individuals and society. Most importantly, as students continue to study and train in apologetics, students recognize the false beliefs of progressive Christianity and learn to effectively engage with a culture that is increasingly hostile to an authentic Christian faith. Instead of falling victim to the woke culture, students are encouraged and awakened to their role of serving as Christ’s ambassadors to be an impactful reflection of God’s love to a lost and hurting world without compromising their faith while remaining …STEADFAST. Steadfast Year Four Literature & Composition is a bit different than the previous years. The reading focus is on captivating texts which include speeches, poetry, short stories, nonfiction, and novels. Instead of analysis, students respond in reader response journals. Year Four is more about reading for reflection while thinking about meaning and worldview.

There are no tests. It is a college-prep course, but it’s also a well-rounded curriculum. No matter what future plans your high school student has, these courses prepare them to know and think critically about the world we live in. The projects included in the courses take the place of tests, giving students many opportunities to display their knowledge and understanding through writing, speaking, and even music or art.

This curriculum was first created for a co-op setting, so it works also well for a weekly meeting or a homeschool hybrid. And of course, it’s great for a typical homeschool setting. A teen could do much of it on their own, or with a parent working alongside. I think it’s a wonderful course for a parent to be involved in, especially if your education was lacking in this richness!

If you are concerned about your ability to teach this, rest assured that the teacher books contain everything you need, including the outline, answer keys, and grading rubrics.

Solid high school foundation for the future

As you may know, I love Mystery of History! We’ve been using it for years, and intend to finish all four volumes. But I also know there are many families who have used and loved MOH through elementary or middle school, and are looking for something similar to follow it up in high school. Steadfast curriculum is the answer! It follows the same timeline from creation to the present day, and adds a stronger focus on Western Civilization and critical thinking. In classical Christian education, this is the rhetoric stage, where the knowledge of world histories and writings that have been accumulated are now examined closely through the lens of a biblical worldview.

My 4th child is graduating next year, but my 5th child is going to use Steadfast after the last volume of Mystery of History. I cannot wait!

Samples and discounts

The Steadfast Curriculum website has lots of detailed information on all four levels. There are samples to view from each level of History and Humanities as well as Literature and Composition. You’ll also find a complete list of credits earned over the course of four years, and the book lists for each volume.

Steadfast is giving my readers a 20% discount on all products with the code NICKI20 when you shop the Steadfast website.

It’s also available on ChristianBook.com, complete with all of the books in the book lists. Paired with free shipping for orders over $50, this is a great deal, too!

Click here:

Friends, I strongly recommend this curriculum to anyone searching for a solid high school program. It does so much! Please go and browse the website. Listen to my podcast interview. And follow Steadfast on Facebook and Instagram. You won’t be sorry!