Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an honors degree in Classics & Ancient History and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Michael has worked in private education as a Classics teacher and administrator for over 20 years. Mr. Michael is known for his talks on the Academy YouTube channel and his sponsorship of Classical Catholic Radio.
Aesop Fables
Aesop’s fables have been a key part of the education of children for thousands of years. These fables, however, are not mere children’s stories. They are important sources of instruction in moral philosophy and examples of the rhetorical mastery of Aesop (6th century BC) and other writers.
In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, students begin their lessons in moral philosophy by the study of Aesop’s fables. Students read hundreds of fables and complete written assessments that help them to develop and demonstrate their mastery of the lessons. Most importantly, they learn how to study the fables, interpret them rightly and articulate their moral lessons.
To assist the students in these lessons, I provide explanations of the moral lessons and significance of the characters chosen by Aesop in each fable. These lessons are intended to help the children learn to study fables, not to restrict their understanding of them to a specific interpretation or application.
While the fables are studied by children in the Academy, we strongly encourage adult students to avoid overlooking Aesop’s fables in their own studies. The fables are simple enough for children to enjoy, but they are profound enough to supply endless content for the meditation of adults.
If you would like to study Aesop’s fables with us, enroll in the Academy Aesop’s Fables course in the CLAA Study Center.
God bless your studies,
William C. Michael, Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
mail@classicalliberalarts.com
Aesop’s Fables, The Horse and the Ass
In this lesson, we will study Aesop’s Fable of “the Horse and the Ass”. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks: Read through the fable once to become familiar with its content. Study the fable carefully, seeking to learn all of its details. Study the exposition … Read more
Live Class: Aesop’s Fables, “The Cat and the Cock” (03/27/2023)
In this live class, Mr. William C. Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy discusses Aesop’s fable of “the Cat and the Cock” with students in the Academy’s Aesop’s Fables course.
Mr. William C. Michael
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
mail@classicalliberalarts.com
For more resources from the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, visit: https://classicalliberalarts.com
Note: Videos for students in the Academy Study Center do not include ads or links to other videos.
Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an honors degree in Classics & Ancient History and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Michael has worked in private education as a Classics teacher and administrator for over 20 years. Mr. Michael is known for his talks on the Academy YouTube channel and his sponsorship of Classical Catholic Radio.
Live Class (03/20/2023) – Aesop’s Fable, “The Dog in the Manger”
In this live class, Mr. William C. Michael discusses the fable of “The Dog in the Manger” with students in the Academy’s Aesop’s Fables course.
Mr. William C. Michael
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
mail@classicalliberalarts.com
For more resources from the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, visit: https://classicalliberalarts.com
Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an honors degree in Classics & Ancient History and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Michael has worked in private education as a Classics teacher and administrator for over 20 years. Mr. Michael is known for his talks on the Academy YouTube channel and his sponsorship of Classical Catholic Radio.
Aesop’s Fables. The Old Woman and Her Maids


Moral: The life of the slothful goes from bad to worse.
Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an honors degree in Classics & Ancient History and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Michael has worked in private education as a Classics teacher and administrator for over 20 years. Mr. Michael is known for his talks on the Academy YouTube channel and his sponsorship of Classical Catholic Radio.
The Importance of Brotherly Love (Aesop)
Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an honors degree in Classics & Ancient History and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Michael has worked in private education as a Classics teacher and administrator for over 20 years. Mr. Michael is known for his talks on the Academy YouTube channel and his sponsorship of Classical Catholic Radio.
Share Your Drawings of Aesop’s Fables
In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, our students spend a great deal of time studying Aesop’s Fables. These fables provide students of all ages with the best introduction to moral philosophy, while arousing interest in natural philosophy as well. One exercise we recommend for young students is to draw a … Read more
Aesop’s Fables, “The Leopard and the Fox”
William C. Michael Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an … Read more
Aesop’s Fables, The Spendthrift and the Swallow
William C. Michael Mr. William C. Michael is the founding headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Mr. Michael is a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church and is a homeschooling father to ten children, all of whom have studied in the Academy. He graduated from Rutgers University with an … Read more
Aesop’s Fables, “The Man and His Two Wives”
In this lesson, we study Aesop’s fable of “The Man and His Two Wives”. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks: Read the fable aloud once. Watch the lesson Tutorial. Study the fable for mastery. Paraphrase the fable. Identify the moral of the fable. Reflect on … Read more