Generalists Before Specialists
At some point, every parent has asked their small child the big question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their responses of astronaut, police officer, fireman, ballerina, and zoo keeper make us laugh and give us glimpses into their heart and maybe even, one day, the distant future. However, I distinctly recall asking my young daughter the question on multiple occasions and her saying everything from a dinosaur to a mom to most recently an “Egyptologist”. So, who knows?
The question is innocent and fun, but it reflects the modern cultural pressure toward early specialization—toward narrowing a student’s focus, aligning education with a career path, and measuring success by technical expertise. At Asbury Classical School, we resist that impulse. Instead, we follow a richer, more time-tested path: we aim to form generalists before specialists.
Everything about classical education is counter-cultural in our modern age, but it is built on enduring wisdom. The ancient liberal arts tradition, which shapes our curriculum at Asbury, was designed not to train workers, but to form free people—those who can think well, speak well, and live well. The word liberal in “liberal arts” comes from the Latin liber, meaning “free.” This education was never about narrow utility; it was about wholeness, maturity, and virtue. It’s not efficient, but it is highly effective.
This summer, we’ve discussed how the classical model equips students with the tools of learning—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—so that they can master any subject they encounter later in life. Rather than being bound to a single skill set, they become adaptable thinkers, lifelong learners, and wise leaders. In a world of increasing specialization, we believe this kind of broad formation is more valuable than ever.
Please know, we are not anti-profession or anti-excellence. Quite the opposite: we believe that the best preparation for any future calling—whether in medicine, law, ministry, business, or the arts—is to become a well-formed, mature human being first. Our students will read deeply, write clearly, think critically, and engage the world through the lens of truth, goodness, and beauty. In short, we are helping our students become the kind of people who can flourish in any field and rise to the challenges of a changing world.
The modern world is full of specialists, but it is starved for wise generalists. Too many can perform a task but struggle to think broadly, speak clearly, or lead with humility. At Asbury, we’re committed to something different. We want to train our future graduates to succeed in their future careers by honoring God, reading deeply, thinking critically, writing clearly, and speaking persuasively across disciplines.
Specialization will come. However, it should follow, not precede, the formation of the whole person. At Asbury Classical School, we form generalists first so that they will be prepared to follow God, lead their families, and excel in their professions even when the future is uncertain.
Toward a life lived in Christ,
Chris Breiland, Head of School