Home

Apprehend and Comprehend

All creatures engage the world in two ways: apprehend and comprehend.  The first involves close up discrimination, reduction and acquisition of an isolated thing or two [any old thing will do]. The second requires taking flight ... surrendering proximate possession to the long distance panorama in which we find wider wisdom and purpose. Opthamologists, in a mysterious but instructive twist, call this phenomenon monovision ... two eyes [and psychologists say two brains]  working together to grasp one reality [which philosophers call organism]. Whatever YOU call it, one thing is clear: both the bird and the gardener are hard at work engaging the world in both ways ... up close and from a distance. What does this teach us about "education"? Let's look at another parable about a garden.

Find the treasure then buy the field

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." ― Jesus

Do you sometimes feel like you are hungering and thirsting in an education desert? Maybe your children do? Well, take heart, for you're not alone. But did you know that there are nutritious gardens with refreshing springs within your reach ... the Cohorts at Northfield.

For learning and education, rightly understood, are like a treasure hidden in a field … right there under our feet … quietly waiting for us to buy the field and start digging for the treasures. In fact, we are surrounded by schools most of our lives ... they arise naturally wherever there is one who is able to teach and one who is willing to study ... and there are treasures of learning hidden in every school. And although learning is priceless and not for sale, you can buy an education and start digging!

And so in 1993, a group of teachers and families began their search for learning in a school called Northfield.  And after almost 30 years, we are convinced the greatest treasures in that wonder-filled field are yet to be discovered … quietly waiting ... maybe for you?

Regardless of what education you buy ... or what school you attend ... you will need the tools of learning ... the trivium ... if you want to dig successfully ... to apprehend the treasures and to comprehend the field which contains them. It takes time and effort to become skilled in the use of these tools. But they never wear out ... and they can be used to learn any subject ... or even to discover new subjects in our world. Think about it.

Join a cohort then start the work

We wish you well in your wandering. And if, perhaps, you are secretly wondering what it might be like to buy an education in a Northfield Cohort ... and learn how to use the tools of the trivium from some real masters … why don’t you just come and see. We're HOME and you're welcome.