It’s Wednesday and students are seated, shirts tucked, and feeling a bit anxious as they wait for their class’s turn to take the stage. Starting with Junior Kindergarten, Faith Christian School students stand in front of peers and parents to recite poems, scripture, and jingles for recitation chapel. For this quarterly event, memorized pieces have been rehearsed and polished in the way that people do when performing for others. Students are encouraged to keep their hands by their sides, look at the audience, speak loudly, and smile (if possible.)
There are many benefits of this ritual at Faith Christian School. Students get regular practice speaking in front of a group, with most feeling comfortable after only a few times on stage. This, along with classroom reports and discussions, helps prepare students for thesis and beyond. Thesis may take place in the twelfth grade, but preparation begins in JK.
Standing at the forefront of recitation chapel are the memorized pieces, a beautiful feature of classical education. Recently, one of our Upper School teachers reminded us that memorizing used to be called “learning by heart.” This phrase implies that what is memorized becomes part of what we love. We want to choose things worth memorizing so that students might come to love and hold on to them. As research suggests, things “learned by heart” are not easily forgotten.
The greatest reward of all is that students are glorifying God in recitation chapel. Who isn’t touched when third graders sing about Jesus or when five-year-olds, slightly out of sync, recite Bible verses? The definition of recitation is “to repeat aloud before an audience.” Memorized pieces at their best are learned for the heart and soul of students and said aloud for the glory of God.
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