Rutherford Tutorial Academy
Who are we?
We are not a school; neither are we a model of classical homeschooling. We are a group of parents pooling our resources in order to obtain tutors for our students in a wide variety of academic subjects. These classes meet only one day a week and are not intended to teach all that the students need to learn. These classes provide the inspiration, the critical information about what to learn and how, as well as the chance to discuss in a group setting the best of what the week’s work has produced.
This tutorial was organized in 1999 by a dedicated core of families who shared a vision that we could be unified in academic pursuits for our children and our shared Christian faith without getting into areas of controversy about doctrine. We wanted a group where tolerance for each person’s faith would be assured. The spontaneous expression of our faith flows through our classrooms, but religious doctrine is not a formal part of instruction.
We believe that devotion to God should enhance, not hinder, the pursuit of academic excellence. Faith and intellect are not mutually exclusive. We agree that as our children mature, we want to share with them ideas that might challenge their faith later in life, introducing these ideas to them while they are within our sphere of influence. We want to be able to help them recognize and counter world views that deny God’s power in the universe and His relationship with man. Teaching mature students to think clearly, to discern truth and recognize deception remains a primary concern.
The format for our tutorial is very simple. Our tutors provide a 32 week lesson plan that creates the backbone of each course. Objective work (daily homework) is checked at home under the supervision of the parents. This requires that parents buy student texts and tutor’s texts/keys for some classes. Classes that meet for one hour once a week can not satisfy academic credit or provide decent instruction unless the parents and students work together to complete what is required outside of class.
We are looking for students who want to be a part of an intimate academic and social group that is non-traditional in several ways. Since the adults and students will get to know each other very well, we expect there to develop a bond akin to that of a large family. As in a family, all ages eat and play together. We will not tolerate any form of social rejection. Students who can only survive in a clique are not welcome. We expect kindness and acceptance to be practiced and will address all lapses immediately.
Classes meet for 32 weeks at a church in Murfreesboro, beginning in August and ending in May. We break for one week at Thanksgiving, two weeks for Christmas, and take a one week Spring Break in March. We charge new students a $25 fee to process their first application, to interview them, and to check references. We charge a $45 non-refundable registration fee per student, due with the class request form, and a $225 administrative fee per family, due on Registration Day. A $25 administrative discount is offered to families who have all paperwork completed and turned in by April 1st. After Registration Day in May, administrative fees will be $265. Tuition for most classes runs approximately $256-$304 for the entire year. These fees do not include textbooks or other material and supply costs required for each class.
We require a year-long commitment and the payment of the full tuition on Registration Day in May. Families who need a payment plan can be accommodated, but we must have post-dated checks and a written contract. The tuition payments are non-refundable under any circumstances. We are hiring tutors for a full year and must be able to guarantee their salaries.
Continue to pray for a clear vision for those who make the decisions for our group, for a unifying spirit to help us minimize differences, and for God’s abundant blessing on our shared labor.