The short answer could be, the 1952 publication of Encyclopedia Britannica’s The Great Books of the Western World series. But that would be a truncated, and quite possibly, unhelpful answer. Plus, that answer would thwart my penultimate purpose in writing this post, which is to provide some insights into what actually makes up a Great […]
Teaching & Education
Seven Reasons to Read the Great Books
If you’ve ever considered reading the classics, or as Mortimer Adler referred to them, the Great Books, I want to suggest seven reasons for starting, immediately. Let’s jump right in. Reason #1 Mark Twain famously noted that a classic is a book everyone talks about, but no one has actually read. Because the publishing of books […]
Why Secular Education is Untenable
One of the hallmarks of modern education is the belief that education should be secular. According to the OED, secular is defined as being “distinguished from the church and religion; civil, lay, temporal… meaning non-ecclesiastical, non-religious, or non-sacred.” The modern notion of education is an attempt to transfer knowledge from one generation to the next […]
Is This Going To Be On The Test?
Inevitably I will have students who ask questions like, “Is this going to be on the test?” or “Do we have to turn this assignment in?” If you’re a teacher, this query is not a matter of if, but when; and educators worth their salt will immediately recognize this line of thinking as problematic. Education […]
Teachers are in the Customer Service Business
Teachers love to teach. They love their students and spend long hours preparing lessons and grading papers for the reward of a few minutes of face time with them each day. They get giddy when those teachable moments emerge and rejoice that their hard work has paid off when a student finally “gets it.” Teachers […]
Principle Over Policy
It was in the military that I first conceptualized organizational policy and understood its significance. Standing in formation on the patio deck of our barracks, we all held the same little blue ATO (Airmen Training Order) in front of our faces with our right hands, our left hands placed neatly in the small of our […]
James Schall Quotes on the Significance of Education
Quotes on education from Fr. James Schall In this sense, the beginning of wisdom is a small dose of humility, of our willingness to acknowledge how much was known and learned before we ourselves ever were. Consequently, if we are to confront the greatest minds we must do so in their books, to which we […]
What is a Liberal Arts Education?
This fascinating interview with Philip Ryken and Jeffrey Davis by Ken Myers of Mars Hill Audio addresses the importance of a liberal arts education in the 21st century. It’s about 26 minutes long and definitely worth a listen if you’ve ever wondered what Classical Christian education is all about. I hope you’ll take a listen. LISTEN […]
How to Slay the Dragon of Classroom Anxiety
I’ve written about this before, but when I was in the second grade, my teacher kept a barf bag in her desk just for me. At the time, I didn’t realize there was an actual name for my experience, but if I was in a public elementary school today, I would probably get diagnosed with […]
Book Review: Thoughts on The Double Helix by J.D. Watson
The Double Helix is not a science book; rather, it is a literary book about scientists—a fascinating account of one of the most important discoveries of the 20th-century. Sir Lawrence Bragg advises the reader of this important fact in the Forward when he outlines what he believes are the three salient themes that surface in […]