October 2, 2026
AUGUSTA, Ga. – John Howard is principal of the Logos Classical Academy, which meets in Warren Baptist Church in Augusta. John was the minister to students at Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss. when I was the pastor there in the 1980s. Since then, he has served the Lord in Austria and in more recent years has given his life to the Christian education of children and youth.
I recently had the opportunity to address the parents of the students of the Academy and then speak in two different chapel services attended by the students. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
When Emily Post died on September 25, 1960, I thought etiquette and civility died with her. I had also begun to believe that Christian virtues in our modern society of values clarification and rationalism had gone with the wind. However, I was wrong. God still has His remnant. When I saw those students quoting scripture, reciting with conviction a long list of virtues which they are being taught to embrace and heard them recalling some of the historic confessions of faith, and singing the great hymns of the faith from memory I was given great hope for those families, if not for the nation.
I observed a stark contrast between the students, faculty, and staff of Logos Classical Academy and our current governmental school system. While there are many good and godly people teaching and providing leadership in our government/public schools, America’s educational system seems to be heading down a path that is troubling at best.
ABC News recently reported that according to Rebecca Pringle, the president of the National Education Association, the current teacher shortage facing the United States is a “five-alarm crisis”. Some 300,000 public school teachers and other staff resigned between February 2020 and May 2022. Some attribute the increased number of resignations to the pandemic disruptions, increased workloads, burnout, safety concerns over NEA’s promotion of a value system antithetical to what many teachers and parents believe, and intense public scrutiny.
A new poll from Education Next, an education policy publication, reported that enrollment in public schools declined by 4 percent in the last two years representing nearly 2 million students. During this same time-period, the number of U. S. children enrolled in private and charter schools increased even more. Furthermore, the number of children being homeschooled doubled from 2016 numbers.
I had the privilege of interviewing John Howard about the worth of a classical Christian education for The Christian Index and here are his comments:
Index: What is the principal foundation upon which LCA is established?
John Howard: Our mission is to glorify God by working in partnership with Christian families to equip their children with a Christ-centered, academically excellent, classical education focused on knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.” As with most mission statements every word has been debated and prayed over. This is who we are.
Index: How is Classical education different from today’s government/public educational system?
John Howard: Fundamentally, since each educational system is based upon a completely different worldview. While today’s modern/government educational system is based upon an atheistic view of the world and man’s purpose in it which is purely utilitarian, the classical Christian approached is based upon a Biblical view of the world where each man is created Imago Dei, (in the image of God) to give glory to his Creator. Classical Christian education wholeheartedly embraces the fundamental idea that, “The fear of the LORD, is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
Index: What are the most fundamental values you seek to impress upon your students?
John Howard: We do not focus much on “values.” Rather we prefer to focus upon “virtues.” Some people may think that is a distinction without a difference, but that is not the case. Values are relative and will vary from person to person. Virtue is defined as moral excellence and practicing a virtue is doing what is morally right in the sight of God in a particular situation.
In our school we define virtues as “rightly ordered affections which emanate from God.” Virtues are characteristics of God, and they are our focus in chapel. This year we have talked about truthfulness, orderliness, kindness, self-control, hope, goodness, and diligence with integrity, gentleness, courage, patience, perseverance, love, peace, calmness, righteousness, bravery, and faithfulness next semester. We teach these virtues not because they are good in and of themselves, but because they reflect the very character of God.
Index: My brief exposure to LCA convinced me that good manners are also a part of what you teach. Is that true, and if so, how do you accomplish that kind of instruction?
John Howard: In most classical Christian Schools, a protocol or etiquette course is usually taught at some point in the Upper School (Grades 7-12). However, the foundation is laid in the Grammar School by teaching proper respect for authority.
For example, when a guest enters the classroom, the students stand out of respect for their guest. Why? Well, the 10 Commandments are all about showing proper respect to God (Commandments 1-4), parents (Commandment 5) and our fellowman (Commandments 6-10). More specifically Leviticus 19:32 says, "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.” The principle is that those who are older should be honored and shown proper respect. Such is pleasing to God and thus our students stand.
Index: What is your end goal for your students when they complete their studies at LCA?
John Howard: We want our students to think well, to love rightly, and to live wisely for the glory of God and the good of others. We want them to know what comprises the “good life” as God defines it and to desire it.
Index: What circumstances or convictions led you to become a champion of Classical Christian education?
John Howard: Through various circumstances I was asked to teach Latin, History, and Logic in a classical homeschool program. I had never had Logic before but they were desperate so I told them I would teach for six months. The Latin and History wasn’t too difficult, but the Logic was eating my lunch for about two weeks into the semester and then the light bulb came on and I found myself becoming angry. I had a bachelor’s degree and two masters and felt I had been cheated of an education.
Index: There seems to be an obvious connection between Classical education and the fact that you are a member of Kiokee Baptist Church. If that is true, why did you become a part of Georgia Baptists’ oldest church and how are you enjoying the life, worship, and ministry of that historic church?
John Howard: I do love Kiokee Baptist Church not just because it is the oldest continuing Baptist church in the state of Georgia having been founded by Daniel Marshall in 1772, but because it takes that history and ties it to relevant ministry today. The church appreciates its roots even as they seek to declare the greatness of God, demonstrate the love of God, and disciple the followers of God today. Kiokee is a church that throws out the bathwater but values the baby very much.
Index: Is there anything else you would like to say to our reader?
John Howard: I just want to thank the LORD for Georgia Baptist churches. Logos Classical Academy began just two years ago in First Baptist Church of Evans. Then last summer Warren Baptist Church and Pastor Dr. David McKinley opened their doors to us. When I am asked about classical Christian education, I usually just tell people it is way education should be with children being raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
I like very much Harvard’s Rules and Precepts of 1646 which said, (Original spelling): ‘Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning.’
Perhaps the bottom line is: If we don’t teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to.
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