William C. Michael

Introduction: Setting the Scene and Topic So today is August 17, 2025 and this is William Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. As you can probably hear from my background, I’m out for a walk today. So today’s talk will be presented in the form of a walk talk. And I just ask you to bear with the circumstances of a walk talk, which means I’m usually not providing any kind of prepared talk, and there may be distractions in the background. What I’d like to talk about is an important topic, one that I was reminded of by … Continue

Dear parents, Many homeschool programs place the full burden of teaching on parents. They send books and “lesson plans,” and parents are left to do the work of teachers—preparing and delivering lessons, grading assignments, and keeping academic records. In some cases, they even ask parents to pay extra for grading services. This is not only costly, but also stressful, and the success of the program ends up depending entirely on the parent’s time, skill, and energy. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy works differently. We have already done the work that teachers need to do. Our courses are fully developed and … Continue

Are you paying thousands for homeschool curriculum… but still doing all the work yourself? You’re not alone. Many parents are shocked to discover that expensive homeschool programs drain family finances, limit extracurricular opportunities, and consume their entire family life—without even delivering a high-quality education. In this video, we’ll break down: Why modern homeschool programs are so expensive (and often overrated) How high costs affect your family’s budget, activities, and culture Why spending more doesn’t mean getting a better education How the Classical Liberal Arts Academy gives your family the highest quality education at a fraction of the cost  

In this talk, Mr. William C. Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, discusses the meaning of the term “CLASSICAL” in the phrase “classical education”.

Today I’d like to explore a question that most Catholics would never think to ask: Why did the Catholic Church preserve the liberal arts? This is a question that takes us into history, theology, and education. If we understand the answer, we’ll see why the liberal arts—by which I mean the classical liberal arts—still matter in the 21st century. 1. What Are the Liberal Arts? Anyone who has been to college has heard the term “liberal arts.” We even speak of “liberal arts colleges.” But the first thing we must do is distinguish between the classical liberal arts and the … Continue

Among Catholic parents, there exists a common problem that is rarely discussed openly but has serious consequences for the faith and maturity of their children. It is the habit of expecting children to live according to high ideals while failing to live by those same ideals themselves. Parents speak about the virtues of lifelong learning, disciplined work, diligent use of time, and the pursuit of holiness—but their own lives often do not bear witness to these exhortations. They teach with words, but not with example.  Often, “being parents” is used as an excuse for neglecting these things, but this raises … Continue

Saturday, August 9Saturday of Week 18 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIOptional Memorial: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and MartyrEvening Prayer I is for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, August 10Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimePsalter Week III Monday, August 11Memorial of Saint Clare, VirginProper of SaintsPsalter: Common of Virgins Tuesday, August 12Tuesday of Week 19 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional Memorial: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious Wednesday, August 13Wednesday of Week 19 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional Memorial: Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs Thursday, August 14Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and MartyrProper of … Continue

On the Modern Mockery of Classical Education In a lecture I recently watched, a Harvard professor mocked the old Harvard curriculum. A diagram showed a course of study composed of Greek, Latin, Philosophy, and Theology, with only a cursory treatment of modern Science and Mathematics. To most modern academics, such a curriculum seems “obsolete”, ignorant, and even embarrassing. This attitude, however, reveals a profound misunderstanding of Christian education and the philosophical foundations on which it is built. The mockery of the classical curriculum is not merely a rejection of its contents but a symptom of a deeper epistemological conflict—one that … Continue