{"id":21579,"date":"2025-10-24T00:11:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/10\/24\/classical-curriculum-comes-to-village-green\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T00:11:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:11:08","slug":"classical-curriculum-comes-to-village-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/10\/24\/classical-curriculum-comes-to-village-green\/","title":{"rendered":"Classical Curriculum Comes to Village Green"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Classical Curriculum<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s back to the future at Village Green Elementary School in Olympia Heights. The school has adopted the classical education curriculum, making it the first public school in South Florida to do so. This curriculum is a favorite of the MAGA movement nationwide and of Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida. Supporters say it emphasizes critical thinking and moral character.<\/p>\n

The New Approach<\/h2>\n

One teacher, Geraldine Cameron, told us she can already see the difference the new curriculum is making among her kindergarten students, compared to last year. \u201cI\u2019m really loving it, we see that we\u2019re going back to basics, things that are working, have worked for many years,\u201d said Cameron. \u201cPersonally, that\u2019s how I grew up, so it\u2019s a new thing, but it\u2019s also something that is tried and true, and we\u2019ve seen also a big difference in how quickly the kids are grasping concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funding and Support<\/h2>\n

At a ceremony Tuesday, with a chorus of kids singing God Bless America, two state legislators delivered a $500,000 check to the school. State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and state Rep. Mike Redondo secured the funding, half a million dollars to implement the classical curriculum championed by Miami-Dade School Board Member Monica Colucci, who was a teacher for 26 years. <\/p>\n

A Different Approach<\/h2>\n

Colucci explained how this classical curriculum is different from what she taught. \u201cThis curriculum is a little bit different because it focuses on virtue, logic, critical thinking, and we\u2019re always done that, but now you really have a focus on the development of the whole child,\u201d Colucci said, pointing out the holistic approach of the program.<\/p>\n

Criticism and Controversy<\/h2>\n

However, not everyone is a fan of the new curriculum. Antonio White, president of the United Teachers of Dade, said it\u2019s simply unfair to give this one school, which only has 203 students, $500,000 at a time, he says, when the state is critically underfunding public education in general. \u201cAlmost everything they\u2019re touting is already taught in public schools; they just want to teach it with a different slant,\u201d White said. \u201cYou know, old classical instruction kind of whitewashes a lot of our history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Politics and Education<\/h2>\n

With the concept being pushed by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups, White says the classical curriculum is another way of politicizing education. Colucci disagreed, saying it\u2019s about results and choice, not politics. \u201cThis is not anything that\u2019s superior or inferior, this is just simply a choice, our district has always been at the forefront of innovation and choice, and that\u2019s what we want to offer, and there\u2019s a demand for this type of education,\u201d Colucci said.<\/p>\n

Future Expansion<\/h2>\n

If the demand is there, and if assessments show the classical curriculum they\u2019re using, which was designed by the University of Florida\u2019s Hamilton Center, is working, there\u2019s a high probability that Miami-Dade County Public Schools will expand the concept to other schools and higher grade levels as well.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The introduction of the classical curriculum at Village Green Elementary School marks a significant shift in the approach to education in South Florida. While it has its supporters and critics, the focus on critical thinking, moral character, and the development of the whole child is certainly an interesting approach. As the school and the district assess the effectiveness of this new curriculum, it will be interesting to see if it expands to other schools and grade levels.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n