Schools are Ready for Change

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In my work in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy I receive contacts from schools that acknowledge their awareness that the current school model is not sustainable and that improvement is needed. They are ready for change but there is a problem: being educated in modern schools themselves, and having no idea where to look for solutions, they are stuck. There is little to no knowledge of alternatives to the ordinary arrangement and operation of modern K-12 schools. The schools are not goal-oriented and designed for success in the present generation. They are still operating as schools did 30 years ago. … Continue

Holy Week in a Busy Home: Loving Christ in the Midst of Motherhood

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When Holy Week Feels Out of Reach Holy Week has come, and the Church grows quiet. The readings grow heavy, and we are invited to walk with Christ in His Passion—to watch, to pray, and to remain with Him. The Church slows down and asks us to look closely at suffering, love, and sacrifice. Yet in your home, nothing slows down. The baby is crying, and a toddler is pulling at your dress. Another child needs help, another is hungry, and another is upset. The house is full, the work is constant, and your body is tired. You may look … Continue

The Bible and Classical Education

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The relationship between the Bible, philosophy, and classical education is often misunderstood in modern discussions, especially among Christians. It is commonly assumed that the Bible replaces all other forms of knowledge, or that the world before Scripture was largely ignorant and in need of correction. From this assumption, it follows that children should be taught to consider only the Bible as a source of truth, as if it were sufficient for all intellectual development. Some even quote passages like 2 Timothy 3:15-16 as proof of this. However, when we examine the history of philosophy, the teaching of the Church Fathers, … Continue

Wednesday Parent Meetings

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Dear Parents, Each Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM (EST), my wife and I host an open Zoom meeting for CLAA families. All parents—both prospective and currently enrolled—are warmly invited to attend. There is no cost to participate, though registration is required. The meeting room opens promptly at 9:00 PM. I begin with a brief update on current developments within the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, along with timely guidance for parents based on the academic calendar. Following these remarks, the meeting is opened for discussion, where parents are free to ask questions and engage in conversation on any topics related to … Continue

On the Use of AI in Writing at the Classical Liberal Arts Academy

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In recent years, new tools have emerged that allow writers to draft and refine content with the assistance of artificial intelligence. As families become more aware of these tools, it is natural that questions arise regarding their proper use. Some wonder whether it is appropriate to rely on such tools in writing, whether their use compromises authorship, and whether work can still be considered genuine if artificial assistance is involved. These are reasonable questions, and they deserve a clear and careful answer. At the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we hold that the value of any written work lies not in … Continue

The Methods of Investigation and the Formation of the Intellect: A Classical Approach to Education

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Before any student can profit from the study of the arts and sciences, he must understand that knowledge does not fall from heaven, nor is it to be obtained by memorizing information put in front of us. All true learning depends upon a right order of inquiry, and the sciences themselves were originally established by men who followed this order carefully and consistently. If we are to receive their work rightly, we must understand the path by which they arrived at their conclusions. This article, therefore, explains the methods of investigation that govern all sound reasoning and scientific knowledge as … Continue

How to Make “Great Books” Education Great

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Modern enthusiasm for “Great Books” programs rests on an assumption that deserves careful examination—namely, that it’s good for students to read all of history’s influential literature. It is suggested that by immersing students in the works of Homer, Plato, Shakespeare, Dickens, etc., they will learn to “think for thmselves” and become wise men and women. Rather than hearing systematic lectures from master-teachers, students are said to benefit from reading on their own and discussing meanings with other students with “teachers” being reduced to discussion moderators. Of course, this was never done in history and is all theoretical. Strangely, to add … Continue

Rethinking Socrates: The Danger of “Critical Thinking”

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In modern circles, especially where we find people talking about classical education, Socrates is spoken of as if he were a martyr. He’s spoken of as a hero of Western civilization who is to be honored and imitated. And yet, if we think about the life of Socrates carefully and accurately, and think about what he was ultimately charged with and put to death for, there’s a chance that we might actually be wrong about Socrates. I’m not willing to argue at present that we are wrong, but I am interested in thinking that we may be wrong about Socrates. … Continue

Persevering in Lent: Faithfulness in Uncertain Days

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When Life Feels Uncertain There are seasons in a mother’s life when everything feels uncertain. Plans shift, news comes that we did not expect, and the future feels unclear. Yet at the same time, the dishes remain, the lessons must be taught, meals must be made, and prayers must still be said. Lent often meets us right here—in the middle of ordinary duties, carried out with a quiet heart that may feel tired or even numb. And yet, this is precisely where God is at work. On this feast of the Annunciation, the Church invites us to consider a moment … Continue

The “Liberal Arts” Aren’t What They Used to Be

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In the Oxford English Dictionary, we find the following definition: liberal arts (n.) – Originally: the seven subjects of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy) considered collectively (now historical). In later use more generally: arts subjects as opposed to science and technology. The term “liberal arts” has not always meant what it means today. In its original and proper sense, it referred to a fixed and well-defined course of study consisting of seven disciplines: Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric (the Trivium), and Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy (the Quadrivium). These were called “liberal” arts … Continue