Maricopa Christian Academy- Where Paper and Pencil Rule

At Maricopa Christian Academy, we take seriously our purpose of supporting parents in the training of their children. This commitment is evident in the mature Christian teachers we hire, the curriculum we use to instruct our students, and our belief that every child is made in the image of God.

There is, however, something that sets us apart from probably every other school in Arizona. We provide our students with an education that emphasizes thinking through knowledge rather than training for tools.

As Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath writes in The Digital Delusion:

“Students don’t study history to become historians or write essays to become novelists. These disciplines are vehicles for building literacy, reasoning, mental flexibility, and those cognitive habits that support long-term agility.”

Students who begin kindergarten with us possess a significantly greater knowledge base by the time they reach seventh grade than students who join our school for the first time. Why? Because our students work hard every day.

Mastery is expected of every student. Regular review of previously mastered skills ensures those skills are retained in long-term memory. Students demonstrate mastery and understanding through daily verbal participation and written work.

Paper and pencil are used throughout kindergarten through twelfth grade in every subject, especially mathematics and English. Students read entire books written from a Christian worldview rather than relying on excerpts or summaries.

Computers also have an important place in our curriculum, but they are taught as tools rather than as the primary means of instruction. Beginning in seventh grade—or when new students enter our middle or senior academy—students work toward a typing speed of 40 words per minute. They then master Microsoft Word, followed by Microsoft Excel. Finally, they are introduced to the Python programming language.

While these computer applications are valuable tools, we intentionally place them under the category of computer skills rather than allowing technology to dominate the learning process.

This philosophy stands in sharp contrast to the movement of teaching nearly every subject through computers. In fact, many schools and even entire countries are now returning to traditional methods of instruction.

Burke County Public Schools in North Carolina passed a resolution declaring that pen-and-paper instruction should be the primary mode of learning. In Sweden, schools are scaling back digital learning while prioritizing printed textbooks and handwritten assignments.

At Maricopa Christian Academy, we have always believed in the value of printed books and textbooks, paper and pencil, and one-on-one conversations between teachers and students. These time-tested methods continue to provide the excellent education our students enjoy and prepare them to think clearly, communicate effectively, and serve God faithfully throughout their lives.