William C. Michael

Families who enroll in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy are offered two modes of participation in the course of study: Standard Tuition and Premium Tuition. Both provide access to the full CLAA curriculum, but they differ in the manner in which that curriculum is pursued. The distinction is not one of content, but of guidance. Standard Tuition for Independent Study The Standard Tuition plan is designed for independent study. Students are given full access to all courses, assessments, and records, and parents oversee the daily work of their children. This arrangement serves families who are confident in directing their studies … Continue

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy will be adding many video lectures prepared to support students in the study of the classical Catholic curriculum. These lectures are designed to explain the content of course lessons in a clear and orderly manner, so that students may not only complete their assignments, but also understand challenging concepts as they study master texts in th seven liberal arts, philosophy, theology and the humanities. The purpose of these lectures is to provide students with clear and faithful explanations of their lessons, so that they may understand the content in an orderly and complete way. Each … Continue

A look behind the scenes at how work is getting done in the CLAA. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is engaged in a work of uncommon scope and importance: the construction of a complete course of studies in the classical Catholic tradition. This is not a matter of assembling a few isolated courses, but of building an ordered curriculum that leads the student from the first elements of language and reasoning to the highest studies of philosophy and sacred theology. Such a task requires not only learning and devotion, but also careful organization, lest the work become irregular or incomplete. … Continue

Mathematicians argue that negative numbers exist because they can serve as square roots for positive quantities. A screenshot of the OpenStax Algebra textbook above (the most widely used textboook in the world) provides an example of this teaching. This is fed to kids in schools and they drink it in as normal. This idea, however, was opposed for many years by philosophers who denied that it was possible for negative quantities to exist. This provides us with an opportunity to ask, “What, exactly, are we learning in modern Mathematics courses?” Is this truth? Or, is Mathematics some sort of “Trojan … Continue

As we enter enrollment season in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we are happy to continue to offer several special enrollment options. Discounted Family Plans If you are enrolling more than three students in the Academy, you may be able to save by enrolling under our Family plans instead of individual Student plans. Discounted Annual Plans If you are committed to studies in the Academy, you can save by purchasing an annual enrollment rather than a monthly subscription. We offer two free months with annual enrollments. Please note that all special offers are non-refundable. These offers are intended for committed … Continue

Thomas Davidson’s “Aristotle and Ancient Educational Ideals” posits that education is the deliberate cultivation of the soul towards eudaimonia, or human flourishing, focusing on character development rather than just information acquisition. The text outlines a hierarchical curriculum, culminating in philosophical contemplation, that serves as a foundation for moral formation and a virtuous life within the family unit. I recommend this book for families in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy.

Modern students and parents often ask what will come of an education in the classical liberal arts, philosophy, and theology. The question itself reveals a misunderstanding. It assumes that education is justified only by what follows it—by admission to a university, by the securing of employment, or by the increase of income. In this way of thinking, studies are merely instrumental, and their value lies outside themselves. Such a view, though common today, departs entirely from the classical and Catholic understanding of education. In the classical tradition, education is ordered not to an external product, but to the perfection of … Continue

In every age, parents desire not merely that their children succeed in school, but that they be truly educated—that their minds be formed, their judgment strengthened, and their lives ordered toward what is good and true. Yet in our own time, education has been largely reduced to a system of mechanical exercises, standardized assessments, and superficial accomplishments. Within such a system, even tutoring—though often sought with great hope—frequently proves ineffective, because it simply reinforces the very methods that have failed. The Problem with Modern Tutoring The difficulty in modern tutoring lies not in the diligence of students or the goodwill … Continue