William C. MichaelWilliam C. Michael

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., is the founder and headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy and a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church. Mr. Michael received an honors degree in Classics and Ancient History from Rutgers University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He led the CLAA to accreditation with Cognia in 2024. He has been studying and teaching the classical liberal arts for over 30 years.

Seeing Through Modern Skepticism

by

There are many reasons why men desire to reject Christianity. The most obvious reason is the moral responsibility that comes with it. To confess the truth of Christianity is to accept great moral responsibility.  To free oneself from that moral responsibility, one simply needs to pretend to reject Christianity. One of the principal means by which men reject Christianity is skepticism. Skepticism can be described as the refusal to accept any teaching unless the truth of that teaching has been demonstrated to be true. When asked to believe in the existence of God, the skeptic will respond that he cannot … Continue

Why Talk of Higher Standards in Christian Education Produces Lower Achievement

by

It is common to hear Christians speaking of the need for “higher standards” in education. Christians commonly argue that modern schools do not aim high enough, and that more challenging curricula are needed.  However, when we look at Christian schools, despite all of the talk of higher standards, we rarely find higher achievements The reason why talk of higher standards never leads to greater results is because the talk is insincere. Christians criticize modern schools for their results, yet refuse to move away from the cause of those poor results, which is the K-12 model of modern schooling. Christians retain … Continue

What’s Different about the CLAA?

by

All parents and teachers know the proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” However, when it’s time to educate children, they all do exactly the opposite of what that proverb advises. Rather than teach students how to study, they try to give what needs to be studied. It never works. Yet, they never stop repeating the same fault they know will never work. Yes, we can force some kids to recite some math facts, or catechism answers or spelling words, but there … Continue

What Modern Christians Get Wrong about “Humility”

by

When we look back through sacred history, we find many examples of heroic lives among the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and saints. We find men like Joseph who interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh and was exalted to the highest office in Egypt; David, who conquered the enemies of Israel and prepared for the construction of God’s temple in Jerusalem; Solomon, to whom the leaders of the world came for counsel; Daniel who stood before the kings of Persia and amazed them with his learning and virtue; John the Baptist who fearlessly preached repentance to the face of the adulterous king Herod; … Continue

A Catholic Life Devoted to Study

by

Modern education is driven by a public school culture that has existed since the late 1800s. We have all been raised with the image of the students seated in desks, facing a teacher who leads class activities and gives grades according to his/her own standards. The goal is the completion of minimum school standards that, again, have existed only since the late 1800s. School meets only 180 days per year, and from around 8am to 3pm. Much of the “school day” is spent in non-academic activities (lunch, study hall, recess, changing classes, etc.). Most of the student’s life, even during … Continue

Thinking about Evolution

by

In modern science classes, we will often learn about the theory of evolution. For example, in the Academy’s Biology textbook, we read: “The science of biology is very broad in scope because there is a tremendous diversity of life on Earth. The source of this diversity is evolution, the process of gradual change during which new species arise from older species. Evolutionary biologists study the evolution of living things in everything from the microscopic world to ecosystems.” As you read this passage, “evolution” doesn’t sound like a theory. It is, unfortunately, presented as if it is a proven fact, and … Continue

A Plan for Christian Students after High School

by

Our school years may be challenging, but the plan is quite simple: study and earn a high school diploma. This task takes some time, but is relatively easy and achieved by almost all students. It’s the next phase of life–between ages 18 and 25–where most young men and women run into trouble. Without a plan for these transitional years, young adults can fail to gain independence, can run themselves into financial trouble and come out of it with few, if any options, for success. I’d like to recommend a plan for Christian students after high school that all should consider … Continue