Johannesburg Campus

OMNIBUS III & VI: Reformation to the Present by Veritas Press

Omnibus III & VI focus on great works of theology, history and literature beginning just after the Reformation and cover significant works of modern Western culture up to modern times. Students learn to read and appreciate the great books in light of the truth of Scripture. The Omnibus courses are the best way we know to engage with the great works of Western Civilization and learn to think biblically about everything. Homework will average 8 hours per week, depending on reading speed.

Omnibus III Core: Dialectic Level; 23 Books & Documents; 1 Honors English Credit, 1 History Credit, 1 Bible Credit

Omnibus III Honors: Dialectic Level; 20 Books & Documents; 1 Honors English Credit, 1 Honors History Credit, 1 Bible Credit

Omnibus VI: Rhetoric Level (includes student-led discussions); 38 Books & Documents; 1 Honors English Credit, 1 Honors History Credit, 1 Bible Credit.

Worldview

Why do we study Omnibus? First, we must ask why we go to school. What is the purpose of education? We study because we believe that we are created by God, in His image, and that He has given us a calling, starting in Genesis 1. That calling is to glorify Him by exercising dominion in the world, mastering His creation for the sake of His glory. Each of you will pursue a different vocation when you leave school, glorifying God as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, politicians, programmers, plumbers, and pastors. The goal of your school years is to prepare you to glorify God and excel no matter what you do. Whatever calling you pursue, whether it is in the “secular” sphere, or in the church, or at home, your education is preparing you to follow the words of Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” and Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Therefore, in school, the main goal is not to master a few key subjects so that you can excel in a particular career. Instead, I want to teach you how to think, so that you can honour God in whatever you do.

Another verse that is critical to why we do what we do is Romans 11:36 “For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.” Because we believe that God made all things, and they all exist for His glory, that means that every subject we study should be studied with the goal of seeing God’s hand in it and understanding how we can glorify God through it. The study of God is not limited to Sunday School. As Psalm 19 says “The heavens declare the glory of God.” We can study God in Science, Logic, Math, and any other subject. In Omnibus the subjects that we will focus on are History, Literature, and Theology. The most important skills that we will seek to develop and use for God’s glory in this course are persuasive and creative writing, speaking, critical thinking, debating, and reading.

In Omnibus, the way that we study these subjects and develop these skills is through the study of the Great Books. The books that we will read presented, often for the first time in recorded memory, the ideas that have shaped the course of history. We study these books because we believe the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes that “there is nothing new under the sun.” All of the ideas that we encounter today have appeared over and over again throughout human history, some with great effects and others with disastrous consequences. In this course you will learn why some ideas work, and other ideas do not. You will learn about socialism and capitalism, materialism and spiritualism, war and peace, freedom and slavery. We will study these ideas in three ways. First, we will examine them in the text of the most influential books that have presented these ideas, from the great scholars and philosophers throughout history. Then we will look for these same ideas in the world around us and understand how they appear in our own culture. Finally, we will turn to the authoritative word of God, comparing these ideas to Scriptures that give both specific and general truths relevant to the subject.

We will also study some of the most interesting and exciting books ever written. These stories are not only fun, but they have greatly impacted modern storytelling, and are full of ideas waiting to be understood. So, without further ado, let us turn to the mechanics of how Omnibus works. Before we do so, I’d like to give credit to Jeff Gage and Michael Rogers, my own Omnibus teachers, for the many lessons I learned from them, and their input in this document. I am very thankful to them for blazing this trail.

By, Evan Cantrell

Sessions

· Discussions – full sentence answers to discuss in class, including the Question to Consider. These sessions contain text analysis, cultural analysis, and biblical analysis, and form the bulk of the work each week.

· Summa – a writing exercise at the end of Discussions to summarise the key issue – these are not assigned to the students to hand in, but the worldview issues they present are important for students to think about as they seek to understand the content and the major issues that are relevant in each book.

· Recitations – jot down answers to discuss in class. These sessions recap the factual content of the books.

· Activities – some we will do together in class while others involve research at home. These sessions help to make the content fun and memorable.

· Writing – typed and submitted on Canvas; more credit given for substance rather than length. More detail to follow below.

· Debate – prepare arguments with your team to formally present in class and defend your position. These sessions help students to develop the skills of respectful and logical argument and apologetics.

· Evaluations – Grammar, logic, and lateral questions to review the most important ideas from an entire book. You may not refer to your Omnibus text, notes, or other sources except the Bible and the book you are studying.

· Speech – write and present a speech on the assigned topic. Pre-recorded videos will be accepted for the online class. These sessions help students develop their public speaking skills and confidence.

All assignments – reading, answering questions, etc. – are expected to be completed before the beginning of each class. Students will receive a class participation mark based on the percentage of sessions completed in full as well as their participation in discussions.

Assignments for marks must be submitted before class on the day they are due. The importance of timeliness is highlighted very well in Declan’s presentation. In order to reinforce students’ understanding of this importance, written assignments handed in late will be reduced in marks by 5% for every weekday that they are late. Assignments may be handed in late without penalty by arrangement between the parent and teacher (due to holidays, family events, etc.)

It is best to plan your week in advance and accomplish each day’s work so you don’t fall behind. Students may not refer to the Teacher’s Edition or online sources providing answers to Omnibus questions as it undercuts the student’s development of mind, skills, and diligence.

Schedule

Upon orientation you will receive a schedule of all assignments listed week by week. The assignments listed as due on a certain date should be done in the week prior to that date. Those who are downloading books as the year progresses must begin searching for the correct edition of the book in time for the beginning of the assignments. Studies on such books will not be delayed.

Class Discussions

Discussions are led by the teacher so students must respect and follow that leadership. Love for one’s neighbour means not being rude or disruptive to others’ listening and speaking. Do not interrupt or talk over one another. Listen to one another and enter the discussion respectfully and kindly. Loving your neighbour also means coming to class prepared to participate helpfully in the discussions. Failing to do so is letting down your fellow students by depriving us of your perspective and expecting your fellow students to pick up the slack in answering questions. Students will receive a regular mark for their participation.

Attendance & Participation

Both attendance and participation are vital parts of this course; therefore, students are required to attend class sessions and participate actively in discussions. Students are expected to view archives of any missed classes, and are responsible for obtaining any notes or assignments.

Students will be given quarterly grades for both participation and attendance:

Exams

Students write two mid-term exams and two semester exams. Students are permitted to use books and a Bible during exams. Use of the Internet is forbidden on all exams. Students are also not permitted to use notes or the Omnibus textbook on any portion of the exam. All exams should be taken in one sitting and proctored by an adult.