An Apprenticeship Model of Education

The purpose of the Apprentice stage is to adopt and embody formational habits and practices that will produce the character of a disciple.  Students work as Apprentices for two years before they are eligible to be considered for promotion to Journeymen.  To become eligible for promotion, each student must accomplish the following:

First, each student must complete the 30-day Exodus Challenge.  This is a period of ascetic practice in which the student clears his life of hurry and distraction so that he might give himself to prayer.

Second, each student must complete the YouSchool Course.  In this course, the student is challenged to grow in his self-understanding, recognizing his strengths and weaknesses, recounting his story, seeing his goals and dreams.

Third, each student must complete the first two years of the Humanities Course of Study.  In these courses, the students read, write, and discuss together the course of Western Civilization, including Great Books and Scriptural texts that inform two of the Play As One pillars: Live Pure and Work Hard.  The details of this course are outlined below in the section entitled ‘Humanities Course of Study.’

Fourth, each student must complete the Live Pure Project and the Work Hard Project.  In this project, each student sets character goals, then makes a plan and forms a team to achieve those goals.  In setting the goals, the student identifies three people who embody the character traits to be achieved (Live Pure or Work Hard).  Then the student identifies the habits of life these exemplars embody, and sets goals to embody the same habits.  The student also names an accountability team to keep him on track and assist him in forming these habits.

Fifth, each student must faithfully fulfill the Spiritual Disciplines Challenge.  This requires each student to memorize 12 Scripture passages (six each year), adopt a practice of prayer, complete a prayer journal, and read and discuss a few select books related to these habits.

Upon completion of these five things, each Apprentice will apply for promotion by submitting a portfolio to a panel for evaluation.  The portfolio will include representative work demonstrating the effort and growth of the student during his two years of labor.  The panel will evaluate the portfolio, and, if the panel determines that the Apprentice is ready to take up the role of Journeyman, he will be ceremoniously promoted.