William C. Michael

Today is Thursday, January 9, 2025 and this is William Michael, the headmaster of the classical liberal arts academy. I’m in communication with parents every day, all day, and I’m often dealing with the same handful of problems that cause all kinds of trouble in Catholic families, all kinds of trouble in the lives of Catholic students, all of which can be easily avoided. I myself, even though I’m the director of a growing online study program that’s accredited on and on, I’m a homeschooling father myself. I have 10 children. We’re in the midst of our homeschooling years, six … Continue

Today is Saturday, March 11, and this is William Michael, of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. I’d like to take up an important question today, one that you probably won’t think is very important when if you look at the title of this talk, but as we get into it, and begin to unfold things, you’re going to see that it becomes more important. And the more we get into it, you’re also going to see just how important this issue is in modern society, and how many problems you encounter every day where this really is the issue. The … Continue

In Greek Reading II, we will begin the study of the writings of Aristotle. The knowledge of the vocabulary and expressions of Aristotle’s writings will greatly help us in philosophical studies, for which the original texts are written in Greek. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks: Lesson 1 Τῶν λεγομένων τὰ μὲν κατὰ συμπλοκὴν λέγεται, τὰ δ᾿ ἄνευ συμπλοκῆς. 2 τὰ μὲν οὖν κατὰ συμπλοκὴν οἷον ἄνθρωπος τρέχει, ἄνθρωπος νικᾷ· 3 τὰ δ᾿ ἄνευ συμπλοκῆς οἷον ἄνθρωπος, βοῦς, τρέχει, νικᾷ. 4a Τῶν ὄντων τὰ μὲν καθ᾿ ὑποκειμένου τινὸς λέγεται, ἐν ὑποκειμένῳ δὲ οὐδενί ἐστιν, 4b … Continue

In Greek Reading II, we will begin the study of the writings of Aristotle. The knowledge of the vocabulary and expressions of Aristotle’s writings will greatly help us in philosophical studies, for which the original texts are written in Greek. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks: Lesson 1 Ὅταν ἕτερον καθ᾿ ἑτέρου κατηγορῆται ὡς καθ᾿ ὑποκειμένου, ὅσα κατὰ τοῦ κατηγορουμένου λέγεται, πάντα καὶ κατὰ τοῦ ὑποκειμένου ῥηθήσεται, οἷον ἄνθρωπος κατὰ τοῦ τινὸς ἀνθρώπου κατηγορεῖται, τὸ δὲ ζῷον κατὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου· οὐκοῦν καὶ κατὰ τοῦ τινὸς ἀνθρώπου κατηγορηθήσεται τὸ ζῷον· ὁ γάρ τις ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἄνθρωπός … Continue

In this lesson, we will begin the study the parts of speech in the Greek language, and the first of them, the article.  To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks: The text of this lesson is translated into English by Mr. William C. Michael, from “Institutionum Linguae Graecae” by Jacob Gretser, S.J. (1767), for student in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy.  No other use is permitted. Lesson Cum articulo, quem jam explicavimus, et reliquis partibus orationis, quas jam aggressuri sumus, variae dialecti accidant, operae pretium erit in hoc capite exponere generatim. Primo, quid sit dialectus. Secundo, … Continue

Before you begin: Each lesson in the Classical Arithmetic program has three parts: a Lesson, Memory Work and an Examination. Some lessons will have exercises that must be completed before you take your examination. When you have studied your lesson carefully and completed your memory work and exercises (if any), you should complete your lesson examination. If you don’t pass your examination, go back, review and try it again. This page is designed to be printed for use away from the computer. There are three assignments for this lesson: Lesson In our last lesson, we learned that the Latin word … Continue

The term “kindergarten” was coined in 1840 by an anti-Catholic (Lutheran) named Friedrich Fröbel.  It was never used in ancient Israel, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, or medieval Europe.  It was never used in the history of Catholic education.  Yet today, every modern Catholic school has a “kindergarten” program. If you look up the term “grade school”, you will find that it is an American term that began being used in the 1860s.  

First we must establish what a name Footnote is and what a verb is; then what negation is and affirmation, and the enunciation Footnote and speech. 4. The Philosopher begins this work with an introduction in which he points out one by one the things that are to be treated. For, since every science begins with a treatment of the principles, and the principles of composite things are their parts, one who intends to treat enunciation must begin with its parts, Therefore Aristotle begins by saying: First we must determine, i.e., define, what a name is and what a verb … Continue