Blog

Modern Math Courses Are Ruining Education

by

Today is Saturday, December 7, 2024 and this is William Michael of the classical liberal arts academy. Yesterday, I shared some thoughts on Facebook, a post about modern mathematics, because in my work in the classical liberal arts academy, I’m always amazed by how much time families choose to spend on modern mathematics. If I look around on the logs for the Academy Study Center, talk to parents, talk to students. There’s always so much attention being given to modern mathematics, so much so that much of classical Catholic studies can never even be attended to, can’t, can’t even be … Continue

The Crisis of the Great Books Canon

by

In an article titled, The Two Canons: The Biblical Books and the Great Books, Dr. Christopher Perrin compares the formation of the Biblical Canon to that of the Great Books. A canon, he rightly notes, is the rule, measure, or standard by which something abides by. For example, the criteria for which books belong in the Bible ultimately reduce to whether these books are inspired by God. If Catholicism is true, then the Catholic Church rightly judges which books belong in the bible because she is guided by the Holy Spirit, and cannot be led into error in matters of … Continue

Discovering Divine Order: The Quadrivium is the Key to Understanding Creation

by

In classical Catholic education, the study of quantity—central to the disciplines of the Quadrivium—is not merely an academic pursuit but an encounter with the divine wisdom that underlies creation. Quantity serves as the principle of design in the mind of the Creator, reflecting the perfect order, harmony, and proportionality that God has impressed upon the universe. What is Quantity? Quantity, in its essence, is the measure or extent of things—whether discrete or continuous. It manifests in forms such as: 1. Discrete Quantity: Numbers that count individual entities. 2. Continuous Quantity: Dimensions like length, area, and volume, which define the extent … Continue

Improving by Simplifying

by

Dear friends, As I seek to manage the work and development of the Classical Liberal Academy as well as possible, I am convinved that the best way to help parents manage their children’s studies, and to help students make progress in their studies, is to continually simplify things.  As a sign of our real development, everything in the Academy is becoming simpler. First, with the publication of quizzes and exams across the curriculum, study and assessment is getting much simpler (and better!). Second, the enrollment process has been streamlined and is now much simpler than it ever has been. Third, subscription plans are easy … Continue

21 Reasons for a Classical Catholic Education

by

A modern K-12 education is necessary for a high school diploma, which is necessary for a good start in adult life. That education, however, is not sufficient preparation for the Christian life.  In better times, this was understood and classical Catholic education was held in honor. Christians living in the 21st century, who have not enjoyed the benefits of this education might wonder, “What exactly are the benefits sought through classical Catholic studies?” Thinking through the curriculum, I offer the following list: While I am sure that other objectives may be thought of in addition to these, we have a … Continue

Help with Home School Requirements

by

In this video, William C. Michael, the headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, discusses principles that homeschooling parents should keep in mind as they begin homeschooling and walks through the California State Homeschool requirements as an example. For help with your family’s unique needs, please consider a consultation meeting: https://classicalliberalarts.com/catalog/services/consultation-services/private-consultation/ God bless, Mr. William C. Michael Classical Liberal Arts Academy mail@classicalliberalarts.com

20 Books Every Catholic Should Study for Spiritual and Intellectual Growth

by

I’ve been studying and working as a classicist for almost 30 years now, and I was recently asked by a friend if I would recommend a list of 20 books that every Catholic man should study for spiritual and intellectual growth, 20 books. If I could pick 20 books that men should really soak in and read and study and reread, what would those 20 books be? And obviously we could debate this, but since I was asked, I put a list together of what I feel the 20 most helpful books are. And again, the goal is not for … Continue

How Mothers Can Teach Their Children Good Manners

by

Today is November 1, 2024, and this is William Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. This evening, I had the pleasure of a great consultation meeting with a couple of Catholic parents, and we talked about a bunch of issues relating to homeschooling and family life. As we had a discussion, it reminded me of an important topic, and it was one that, as I began talking about it, lots of memories started to come up. When our meeting ended, I said, “That’s a topic I think I need to talk about.” I’d like to take some time tonight … Continue