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Frequently Asked Questions
Public School Students
I see that the only class you offer public school
students is Thought Captive. What kind of class is Thoughts Captive?
Thoughts Captive is a class about worldviews. It prepares
young students for the challenges of college and university life by examining
non-Christian worldviews and carefully developing in the student a worldview
that is Christ centered. Through our examination of literature, film, music,
drama and art the student acquires the strong apologetic skills necessary for
making an impact on the world in which we live. Careful consideration of works
by C. S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and others prepare the student for a
lifetime of practical and constructive involvement in a world that desperately
needs the Gospel.
How are Thoughts Captive classes conducted?
Even though the atmosphere of the class is relaxed,
Thoughts Captive classes are intense and interactive. Students are required to
do directed study outside of class preparing them for interaction with the
instructor and other students. Additionally, in class they will often hear
music, see a play, view a film or read a short work of literature that
requires their immediate discussion. Cambridge instructors begin with the
concrete before seeking an understanding of the abstract. Practice comes
before theory. Cambridge instructors call this approach Parabolic Method. It
is the same method Jesus used when teaching the disciples and we believe it is
the best method for teaching our students.
Is there some advantage to be gained by teaching a
variety of subjects in one class?
Yes, good critical thinking includes the ability to cross
reference other disciplines as well as the ability to apply scriptural
absolutes to all disciplines. The interdisciplinary approach of Thoughts
Captive provides ample opportunity for the student to develop these cross
referencing skills.
Is there much reading required for Thoughts Captive?
Students who wish to do college preparatory work by taking
Thoughts Captive must be ready to do a significant amount of reading. The
amount of time this takes depends on the ability of the student to read
quickly and think critically about the material. The student's ability to read
both critically and quickly will improve with time.
Who supplies the reading materials for this class?
The student is responsible to purchase the books. Handouts
will be supplied by Cambridge Study Center.
I am a parent. Will Thoughts Captive prepare my student
for college?
For a number of reasons we believe it is their best
preparation for college. It goes beyond rote memorization, teaching critical
thinking skills useful in any class or vocation and it prepares them for
non-Christian worldviews they will encounter at the college and university
level.
Will this class help my student on the SAT?
As we track our students, we find that the critical
thinking skills taught in Thoughts Captive help students score well above
average on the SAT. Public and private school students who have taken Thoughts
Captive have averaged 1255 on the SAT. The average Florida student scores 998.
Will the instructor monitor my student's reading to
insure the assignments are done?
Because of the interactive nature of the class the
instructor will know eventually if a student is doing the reading. However,
this is a college preparatory class and students are expected to stay current
on their reading without the involvement of the instructor. Parents should
check often with their student to insure they are on schedule.
Will my student receive grades?
Public school students who take Thoughts Captive do not
receive grades. Parents will receive evaluations that rate the student's
preparation and participation.
Is it worldly to expose our students to non-Christian
worldviews?
Not only is it not "worldly," the scriptures commend it.
In I Chronicles 12:32 it is mentioned that the men of Issachar knew what
Israel should do because they "understood the times." Daniel 1:17 and 20
states that God gave Daniel and his friends knowledge of "all kinds of
literature and learning" making them the wisest of the king's wise men. And in
Acts 17 we see Paul using his carefully studied knowledge of a pagan culture
to share the Gospel. We must not send our students into the world unprepared.
If our students are to be truly evangelical they must "understand the times."
This means they must know the scriptures, but they also must know the enemy
who seeks to devour them (I Peter 5:8). Thoughts Captive is "boot camp" for
young students.
I have noticed that films are part of the curriculum.
Aren't movies part of what is wrong with our culture?
Yes, movies are a problem in our culture. They discourage
us from reading, and they often teach worldviews that are non-Christian or
anti-Christian. This is precisely the reason we study films. Whether we like
it or not movies are a part of the world we live in, and our families,
friends, and neighbors are influenced by them. If we do not understand movies,
we do not understand our culture. Thoughts Captive instructors endeavor to
equip each student with the critical skills necessary to understand film. One
should also remember that film is a legitimate art form deserving a place in
any curriculum that studies the world in which we live.
Will my student find objectionable material in Thoughts
Captive?
From time to time there will be crude language, violence
and reference to sexual situations in the material covered. The instructor
will edit any film that contain scenes that are sexually explicit. All
materials will be handled in a way which encourages the development of the
maturity necessary for study at the college and university level.
May my student opt out of classes covering this material?
Unless the teacher is convinced there are legitimate
reasons that justify a student's opting out, the student will be required to
participate. Parents should contact the instructor if they think they have a
legitimate reason for their student's opting out of a class.
What is the theological position of your instructors?
The instructors of Thoughts Captive are conservative,
evangelical, and Reformed in their theology.
What does Reformed mean?
Reformed means that the priorities of the Reformation are
emphasized, among them: 1) re-forming the church to be like the first century
church; 2) the authority of scripture; 3) God's sovereignty; 4) salvation by
grace alone; 5) the sufficiency of Christ; and 6) an understanding that man is
created in God's image: rational, creative, with a conscience and free.
Will every item in the Thoughts Captive curriculum
outline be covered in class?
Our goal is to cover everything in the curriculum outline,
however some classes move slower than others and some items in the curriculum
may be passed over to keep the class on schedule.
What other opportunities does Cambridge offer public
school students?
Cambridge offers film nights, seminars, workshops, and
year-long classes in the arts, worldview studies and leadership skills. The
study center also offers field trips twice a year for students who wish to
participate. |
