Our Virtues

Courage

Courtesy

Truthfulness

Prudence

Perseverance

Liberty Tree Academy students strive to be virtuous in conduct, seek to grow in scholarship and learning,
and pursue a commitment toward civic responsibility. Liberty Tree Academy students will not lie, cheat, or
steal, and will discourage others from such actions.

Why We Teach Virtues

LTA was founded to develop students in both mind and character. The school’s virtues are the guiding principles used to cultivate and nurture character: courage, courtesy, truthfulness, prudence, and perseverance. Students are expected to conduct themselves honorably in word and deed, to strive to live by the virtues and to encourage others to do so as well. Virtue and character development are not separated at LTA. When combined, they are holistically integrated within our total program. A successful program is virtuous and cultivates virtue.

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece

“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

–Patrick Henry

At Liberty Tree Academy (LTA), we respect the courage of our country’s founders and encourage our students to live out that courage every day in small ways–from presenting their well-researched views in front of classmates to consulting a teacher about bad behavior witnessed on the playground–in hopes that if our students are ever called to higher acts of courage through civic duty or personal life, a solid foundation will have been built in their characters.

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

–Thomas Paine

In beginning a new country, as Thomas Paine was helping to accomplish, or a new school, as we have with LTA, it is imperative to recognize the unique position that exists to establish rules and norms. At LTA, we recognize that a politeness in attitude and behavior toward others can help us accomplish great things. Therefore, courtesy is a necessary virtue of our students both within our school building as we interact with each other and outside our building as we represent LTA and help make our country an even better place.

“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”

–George Washington

Cultivating an attitude of truthfulness in the small matters our students encounter daily will lead to a respect for and abidance to truthfulness as those students become adults. At LTA, our hope is to develop, in partnership with families, civic-minded young men and women who will be honest in their dealings.

“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”

–Thomas Jefferson

Prudence is the ability to use reason to make good decisions, especially in the absence of authority. This virtue is developed and cultivated through the habitual observance of the other virtues. If students are regularly truthful, for example, they will not lie in the absence of a teacher but will use prudence to make the good decision to tell the truth. Exercising prudence is an important virtue at LTA.

“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.”

–John Quincy Adams

Perseverance is a necessary component of any student’s life. To study and learn, one must persevere until the difficulties of the task seem to disappear. At LTA, we strive to challenge students in all subjects so that they might learn not just the subject at hand, but also the lesson of perseverance.