Restful Learning

Several years ago, a board member encouraged me to put my feet up and simply think for a while. He wondered what might come from allowing myself time to stop and think deeply. That conversation led to years of reflection and reading about the value of rest.

Busyness can reflect a strong work ethic, but it can also distract us from thinking deeply about our lives, our loves, and our relationship with the Lord. Busy isn't always better.

God gave us the Sabbath as an antidote to anxious toil. He even commanded rest for the land. Fallow ground appears unproductive, but beneath the surface, the soil is replenishing. Rest requires trust in God's provision rather than our own productivity.

Classical education recognizes the importance of leisure. Aristotle described leisure, or schole’, as the highest use of the mind. It is not idleness, but the opportunity to think deeply and deliberately. Interestingly, schole’ is where we get the word school. Leisure is restful learning. This doesn't mean easy or passive learning. It means being intentional rather than frenetic, allowing students to pursue greater challenges without the distractions of an overwhelming schedule.

At Covenant, restful learning means reading deeply, discussing thoughtfully, and mastering concepts rather than simply covering material. It means calm, beautiful classrooms, outdoor lunches, nature walks, and stories read aloud. It also means a restful calendar that provides time for family, play, reading, and exploration.

Students spend more than 16,000 hours in school before graduation. Those hours are deeply formative. We desire that their experience of restful learning will shape their loves, teaching them to live a life of thoughtful leisure over a life of anxious busyness. Our off weeks are a taste of Eden.

Grace and Peace,

Leslie Collins

Head of School