Sections & Studies

As promised, we now offer the California One Week Summer Program group photo (above), as well as photos of the three classroom sections (below)!

A “section” at Thomas Aquinas College is a group of about 17 students who, for the duration of the academic year, take all their daytime classes together. The idea behind organizing classes this way stems from the College’s use of the Discussion Method. Because the method depends on open discourse — which, in turn, relies on trust — it is important for students to come to know each other well. By taking nearly all of their classes together, the members of each section achieve a sense of intimacy and come to rely on one another in their shared pursuit of the truth. 

Classes in the One-Week Summer Program are divided into the three sections. The groups competed against each other in yesterday’s Section Games as a way to foster the bonding that leads to great classroom conversations.

Today was marked by two such conversations. The first came in the morning’s mathematics class, where students — for the first time — got to demonstrate Euclid’s geometrical propositions on the blackboard. Brave volunteers seamlessly presented their props, and rich discussions followed suit. And, in the second class, they considered Plato’s Euthyphro, contemplating and evaluating its varying definitions of piety.

The programmers can now look forward to a busy evening, highlighted by dance class and more Euclid! Read all about it Wednesday on the Summer Program Blog!

See all of today’s photos ... and more!

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