First Things

Our people write about classical Christian education.

What are First Things?

Every school has a set of foundational beliefs and principles that governs its content and practices. What are the spoken and unspoken assumptions and principles that govern all that we do at Capstone? In First Things, our teachers, staff, and leadership write about the foundational principles of classical and Christian education.

Jan 10, 2024

The Hard Work of Memorization

Part of being faithful in the big ship of the universe with God at the helm is the hard work of memorization—and it is very hard. There’s a lot of memorization and recitation at Capstone. We don’t do it because we think a lot of work is useful. We do it because beauty and truth and good things are always useful, both for whatever God brings to our hands and hearts in the future, and simply because what is beautiful and true and good is worth enjoying for its own sake.

Jonathan McGuire

North Campus Dean

Dec 14, 2023

Virtuousness

Virtue can’t exist in a disconnected way, floating from one place to another like a “thing” to pick up from a shelf or discard when unwanted. It exists in action and in relationships. An ax isn’t virtuous except in its excellent chopping. A car fulfills its virtuous purpose when it’s driven. This is how God made us.

Jonathan McGuire

North Campus Dean

Nov 30, 2023

Piety

Critical thought and actions should be compared against God’s truths set forth in the Bible and placed in the proper order of God’s light. If we tell a better story—that a young person is created for a purpose which is clear and eternal, not obscure or lasting only as long as a piece of chocolate cake—then we can capture the hearts of the youth. Then they will take one giant leap toward the highest good of self-giving love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

George Roughead

Latin and History Teacher

Nov 1, 2023

Grandparents Day in Review: Standing on the Promises

Last Friday, we celebrated grandparents. What a humbling experience it is to stand before three generations of our Capstone families and to consider the wealth of experience, wisdom, and contributions of those who have brought us to where we are today. The school that blesses our children today stands on the shoulders of the grandparents of our children, our grandparents, and our ancestors before them.

Paul Fisher

Headmaster