William C. Michael

In recent years the term classical school has become increasingly common in educational discussions. Many schools now identify themselves as classical academies or classical learning programs. Yet the meaning of the term is often unclear. Some schools adopt the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some include courses in logic or rhetoric. Still others combine elements of the modern college-preparatory curriculum with selected features of classical education. Because the term is used so loosely, it can be difficult for parents and educators to determine what a school actually offers. One school may call itself … Continue

In recent years, the language of education has become increasingly confused. Many schools now describe themselves as “classical schools,” yet the meaning of the term varies widely. Some institutions apply the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some introduce courses in logic or rhetoric while otherwise retaining a modern college-preparatory curriculum. At the same time, many schools emphasize STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—without offering students sustained engagement with the intellectual traditions that shaped Western civilization. As a result, parents, educators, and policymakers often find it difficult to understand what schools actually teach. A … Continue

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is pleased to announce the development of a new degree program: the Bachelor in Classical Christian Studies (BCCS). This program represents the culmination of many years of research and curriculum development at the CLAA and provides a structured course of study in the classical liberal arts rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The BCCS degree is designed around a simple but important principle: a college program should teach the arts themselves, not merely surveys or secondary studies about them. Modern college degrees often consist of a collection of introductory courses and general education requirements that … Continue

The error of Protestantism can be understood very easily. We simply need to understand the context of the New Testament writings. The New Testament was written before 70 AD, when the Jewish temple was still in full operation. The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Catholic Church was founded in 33 AD. Its understanding of the New Testament was established while the temple was still in full operation, when the Apostles were not only writing the Christian faith, but living it. Protestants began reading the New Testament after 1500 AD, 1430 years after the Jewish temple … Continue

As a father of 10 children, one lesson that I learned early in my parenting experience was that it’s very easy to have a peaceful, happy family. It’s very easy to have a happy wife. It’s very easy to have happy children, really. It’s very easy to have everyone happy with me if I never ask them to do anything and I never correct anything that they do. If I never ask anyone to do anything and I never correct anyone, relationships can all be very, very happy, at least for them. But if I am accountable to some external … Continue

Today is Saturday, March 7, 2026 and I’m William Michael, the headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. If you’d like to learn about what we’re doing to restore classical Catholic education, and if you’d like to join us and study at no cost, check out our website at classicalliberalarts.com. This morning, I was thinking through some frustration that I feel as I work in Catholic education, because I feel like Catholic families complain about modern culture and complain about modern education, but they never do anything about it, and even if they do make an attempt to do something, … Continue