More gold from The Liberal Arts Tradition by Kevin Clark and Ravi Scott Jain: The teacher's job is then to mediate that great conversation using a variety of resources such as textbooks, secondary sources and even primary texts from the great natural philosophers and scientists themselves. Crucial passages from Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Faraday are … Continue reading ‘Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge’
How To Read (And Understand!) Einstein
This is one of the best examples of classical education I've seen. It is often difficult to find descriptions to clarify classical education's distinction and promise - this one does both. The quotation is a bit lengthy (so is my commentary) but it's worth it. In his excellent book about Christian classical education, co-author Ravi Scott Jain … Continue reading How To Read (And Understand!) Einstein
New Study Suggests Good Humanities Instruction Increases Math Knowledge, Too
University of Virginia cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham discusses some interesting results from a new study that finds good English teachers improved students' learning in math. First, ELA [English literature] teachers may, on average, provide a bigger boost to what are usually called non-cognitive skills: self-regulation, persistence, seeing oneself as belonging in school, and so on. … Continue reading New Study Suggests Good Humanities Instruction Increases Math Knowledge, Too
Maslow Got It Backwards
Classical Christian education promises not only distinctive methodology but also a different understanding of the ends of human life. I recently heard Andrew Kern, in a discussion of Homer, say something that hits squarely in the center of this distinction: We don’t have an ultimate craving for survival, for power, for practicality, for utility. We … Continue reading Maslow Got It Backwards
‘To Teach A Child To Memorize What Does Not Have Meaning Is Insane’
"Like it or not, our children are growing up in this culture. They are moving into the future away from us, just as we moved into the future away from our parents. Our children cannot live in our time. They live in their own time, but the more tied to the past they are in … Continue reading ‘To Teach A Child To Memorize What Does Not Have Meaning Is Insane’
Why Putting Kids Into School Earlier And Longer Is Counterproductive
Two years ago the New York Times published an article talking about a trend that continues to accelerate: pushing academic instruction and seat time longer and earlier. Twenty years ago, kids in preschool, kindergarten and even first and second grade spent much of their time playing: building with blocks, drawing or creating imaginary worlds, in … Continue reading Why Putting Kids Into School Earlier And Longer Is Counterproductive
“Pretty Good”: A Famous Poem By A Famous Curmudgeon
In her Mere Motherhood newsletter for the CIRCE Institute (yes, you should subscribe), Cindy Rollins shares the following poem. Pretty Good by Charles Osgood There once was a pretty good student Who sat in a pretty good class And was taught by a pretty good teacher Who always let pretty good pass. He wasn’t terrific … Continue reading “Pretty Good”: A Famous Poem By A Famous Curmudgeon
How Classical Education Prepares Your Child For A Career That Doesn’t Exist Yet
Redeemer Classical School cofounder Joy Pullmann has a brother whose entire career path did not exist when he entered college. He works in social media, and makes a good living at it for a globally recognized media brand. Americans switch jobs frequently, and even switching entire careers is common (researchers debate how common, but they … Continue reading How Classical Education Prepares Your Child For A Career That Doesn’t Exist Yet
In The Era of Factory Education, Its Antithesis Surges
The Gospel Coalition has published a feature looking at the exponential growth in Christian classical education over the past two decades. It is a great introduction to what a classical education looks like and how it differs from what most Americans are used to by now. An excerpt: While calling education “classical” is new, the practice is … Continue reading In The Era of Factory Education, Its Antithesis Surges
Watch This 97-Second Video To Understand How ‘Classical’ Enhances Christian Education
Christian classical educators believe that our faith's major ideas about the world ought to deeply affect how our schools look and what they do, far beyond simply adding (very good!) practices such as Bible reading and chapel attendance on top an essentially secular base. Our faith's "first principles" ought to permeate everything we do. That … Continue reading Watch This 97-Second Video To Understand How ‘Classical’ Enhances Christian Education
Redeemer Classical School 