Our Ethos
The classical education provided at Erasmus Primary School is aimed at developing the whole child – Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit. Founded on philosophy, the love of wisdom, a fundamental premise is that we all share the same universal essence, which is the ultimate source of all wisdom and intelligence.
Simple practices that develop the capacity for both paying attention and expanding awareness are part of the daily routine of school life. These practices support physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
At Erasmus, a key focus is on laying the foundations of a child’s character in the primary years when the child is most receptive. Our staff are committed to leading by example.
The approach is holistic. Our carefully designed curriculum aims to develop all four aspects of the being.
BODY
- Encouragement and support for physical exercise, competition and sportsmanship.
- Nourishment of the body with quality food served daily to the whole school sitting down together to morning tea and lunch.
- A spirit of service in daily school life.
MIND
- Cultivation of a spirit of enquiry in all subjects.
- A thorough, systematic grounding in all subjects, including English, Mathematics, Scripture and Philosophy, Science, Health and Physical Education, History and Geography.
- Classical languages, specifically Sanskrit, with Latin as an optional extra-curricular activity.
HEART
- Learning and reciting beautiful texts by heart.
- Practice in the giving of fine attention
- Cultivation of stillness
- Singing
- Needlework
- Geometry
- Service
SPIRIT
- Meditation offered from age 10.
- Classes in Practical Philosophy, for both staff and students, that inspire a love of wisdom and a willingness to explore the deeper questions of life.
- Exposure to a variety of sacred and philosophical literature
- Sacred celebrations from various traditions
These divisions are vitally interconnected. When one is nourished, the whole being is nourished.
- Practices that support the child’s capacity for stillness and presence of mind.
- Daily practise of the four Platonic ‘master’ virtues of wisdom, courage, justice and temperance, building strength of character.
- The use of the finest materials: fine music, art, literature, sacred geometry, needlework, poetry and drama; stories of virtuous characters from history and the present day; wisdom drawn from a variety of spiritual and philosophical traditions.
- Respect for one another, and for authority, in order to develop personal responsibility and accountability.
- Supportive partnerships between school and home.