At Faith Christian School, students begin studying logic in seventh grade, building skills in reasoning and recognizing false arguments. This foundation prepares them for rhetoric in ninth grade, where they learn persuasive communication. Logic equips students with structured thinking, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime.

One of the distinct components of a Faith Christian School education is the formal study of Logic, which begins in the seventh grade and continues in the eighth grade. As you read further, imagine how the study of this subject will benefit your children for their entire lives.

At its most basic, logic teaches us the skills of how to reason well and how to identify false reasoning, no matter how convincing it may sound. As a culture, we are in desperate need of these two skills. The study and the implementation of logical reasoning provide a foundation for our formal rhetoric study, which takes place in the ninth grade. Rhetoric teaches the skills necessary for compelling communication.

Said another way, logic is a set of rules that help individuals reason in a structured and more effective, intentional manner, to make good judgments and/or solve problems. The study of logic and its uses is a powerful tool. Consider the following: 

Examples of Logic at Work

Cause-and-effect is part of the study of logic. It relates to an understanding of (logical) relationships, an understanding that, if properly applied, is crucial in many fields, including science, engineering, medicine, and business. For instance, understanding the logic of cause and effect helps:

• Doctors diagnose illnesses
• Detectives solve crimes
• Programmers troubleshoot software glitches
• Mechanics repair automobiles
• Judges interpret and apply laws

Examples of Logic in the Home and Everyday Life

Logic describes the process of thinking about what is (logically) true, and an understanding of logic often has a two-fold benefit. First and most obvious, logic provides a disciplined or systematic methodology to process information, to “test” its validity. Second, and more subtle, logic helps critique “the experts.” For instance, logic helps:

• Consumers navigate advertisements in order to make better purchasing decisions
• Parents interpret a child’s behavior in order to choose a course of action
• Children recognize peer pressure in order to choose a thoughtful response to peers
• Voters decipher candidates’ arguments in order to cast a more informed vote
• Christians apply the principles of scripture to everyday life

Examples of Logic as a Practice

Logic differentiates root causes from coincidental and/or contributing factors, whether performed economically, scientifically, or personally. Logic can help isolate the effects certain factors have on an outcome and quantify those effects for greater understanding.  Identifying root causes helps individuals:

• Predict outcomes and potential consequences
• Develop effective solutions
• Prevent problems from recurring
• Improve decision making

Consider the potential impact of graduates (citizens) who were trained to think logically; think of the positive effect on homes, businesses, churches, and our government. Logic IS a powerful tool!