Study Center

Yesterday, I posted a talk answering some questions on classical education—what is classical curriculum, and so on. You can see that talk published on March 20. In the midst of that talk, toward the end actually, I discussed a topic that I think is pretty important, and I even received some feedback on that part of the talk. I think it would be worthwhile to devote an entire talk just to that topic: the difference between philosophy and theology. The Problem in Modern Christian Thinking This is an issue that really highlights the problem in modern Christian thinking. The abandonment … Continue

Last night, I received an email from a contact who had some questions about the Classical Liberal Arts Academy curriculum, and as I looked at the questions, I thought they might actually be questions that others would like answers to. So what I’m going to do in this talk today is answer those questions in a video talk that I can share back to the man who sent them to me, but I’ll also post them because, as I said, I think these questions may be in the minds of some others. They’re good questions, and I’d like to take … Continue

Yesterday, I received a message from a Catholic mother who models a virtue needed to learn about and enjoy an authentic classical Catholic education. This virtue is valuable in all areas of life, especially when matters are confusing and immediate reactions would be ignorant and emotional. I wanted to share this letter as an example of this rare virtue and say a little about it below. Dear Mr. Michael, I am a Catholic homeschooling mother in [location] , and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your work. Like many homeschooling parents, I have spent the past … Continue

In recent decades, interest in classical education has grown rapidly. Many schools now describe themselves as classical academies or classical learning programs, and parents increasingly seek education rooted in the intellectual traditions of Western civilization. Yet the meaning of the term classical education is often unclear. Schools that identify as classical may offer very different programs. Some emphasize history and literature. Others introduce Latin or Greek. Some include courses in logic or rhetoric. Only a few attempt to restore the full structure of the classical liberal arts. Because the term is used so broadly, it can be difficult to determine … Continue

In recent years the term classical school has become increasingly common in educational discussions. Many schools now identify themselves as classical academies or classical learning programs. Yet the meaning of the term is often unclear. Some schools adopt the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some include courses in logic or rhetoric. Still others combine elements of the modern college-preparatory curriculum with selected features of classical education. Because the term is used so loosely, it can be difficult for parents and educators to determine what a school actually offers. One school may call itself … Continue

In recent years, the language of education has become increasingly confused. Many schools now describe themselves as “classical schools,” yet the meaning of the term varies widely. Some institutions apply the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some introduce courses in logic or rhetoric while otherwise retaining a modern college-preparatory curriculum. At the same time, many schools emphasize STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—without offering students sustained engagement with the intellectual traditions that shaped Western civilization. As a result, parents, educators, and policymakers often find it difficult to understand what schools actually teach. A … Continue

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is pleased to announce the development of a new degree program: the Bachelor in Classical Christian Studies (BCCS). This program represents the culmination of many years of research and curriculum development at the CLAA and provides a structured course of study in the classical liberal arts rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The BCCS degree is designed around a simple but important principle: a college program should teach the arts themselves, not merely surveys or secondary studies about them. Modern college degrees often consist of a collection of introductory courses and general education requirements that … Continue

The error of Protestantism can be understood very easily. We simply need to understand the context of the New Testament writings. The New Testament was written before 70 AD, when the Jewish temple was still in full operation. The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Catholic Church was founded in 33 AD. Its understanding of the New Testament was established while the temple was still in full operation, when the Apostles were not only writing the Christian faith, but living it. Protestants began reading the New Testament after 1500 AD, 1430 years after the Jewish temple … Continue

As a father of 10 children, one lesson that I learned early in my parenting experience was that it’s very easy to have a peaceful, happy family. It’s very easy to have a happy wife. It’s very easy to have happy children, really. It’s very easy to have everyone happy with me if I never ask them to do anything and I never correct anything that they do. If I never ask anyone to do anything and I never correct anyone, relationships can all be very, very happy, at least for them. But if I am accountable to some external … Continue