Category Archives: education

Five Good Reasons to Avoid Being Educated

Posted on October 28, 2017 by

Sometimes in life we need to face difficult truths.  If we have been on the wrong side of an issue, we need to be open to change, and open to declaring an “about-face.” Even if it hurts! And so, after … Continue reading →

Posted in catholic education, classical education, college, education, liberal education, Newman, Socrates, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

The Elective System in Education: “You Cannot Train Everybody For Everything”

Posted on October 22, 2017 by

Whatever one may say about our twenty-eighth president’s views about The United States role as promoter of democracy and capitalism and interventionism throughout the world, I think we have to give him full-hearted applause for his views on authentic liberal … Continue reading →

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In Education, The End Depends On The Beginning.

Posted on October 17, 2017 by

Incidentally, I haven’t read much of the Roman poet Manlius who “flourished” in the first century AD. But his famous line “Finisque ab origine pendet” from the fourth book of his Astronomicon appears to have been adopted by Phillips Exeter Academy as … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, catholic education, classical education, education, liberal education, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Other Statues to Pull Down

Posted on August 18, 2017 by

While we are busily engaged in the sanctimonious and largely symbolic act of pulling down statues of various confederate generals and others who promoted slavery directly or indirectly, I have a few suggestions for some other “statues” that need pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in education, liberal education, Modernists, Shakespeare, slavery | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

How to Choose the Right Catholic High School for Your Children

Posted on May 29, 2017 by

I suppose twenty-eight years involved in small Catholic schools qualifies me as an experienced educator. Or at least it has provided me with plenty of experience in listening to parents and their children on the subject of “How to Choose … Continue reading →

Posted in catholic education, classical education, education | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

Open Letter to My Daughter(s)

Posted on January 18, 2017 by

Is there anyone who was not profoundly touched by the flurry of open letters that loving parents wrote to their daughters concerning the recent election of our new president? (for example here and here and here) Ms. Sallie Krawcheck consoles her daughter after the … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, catholic education, classical education, education, Fine Arts, Grammar, Homer, Liberal Arts, Seven Fine Arts, Uncategorized, Virgil, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Summer Somnolence

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

My inner sense tells me that it might be a good time to start thinking again. You see, the end of July is precisely the heart of the season when the mind of the academic, the mind of a teacher, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in ad libitum, education, Homer, summer vacation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Concrete Thoughts

Posted on July 26, 2015 by

Liberal education works! I have been thinking about this for several weeks as I renovate the second floor kid’s bathroom, and the thought provides me with no end of pleasure (and humor) when I think about the two senses in which it is true. … Continue reading →

Posted in bathroom restoration, classical education, education, liberal education works, Work | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

On small beginnings: Wisely and Slow Part V

Posted on February 1, 2015 by

Classical education has something to do with wisdom. It has something to do with becoming wise. The classical scholars among you will undoubtedly recognize two litotes in that clever opener. Of course classical education has something to do with wisdom. … Continue reading →

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Wisdom Takes Time: Wisely and Slow Part III

Posted on January 18, 2015 by

 I can tell when a topic is so fascinating that people are just not ready to move on. And you, O fortunate reader, are lucky that I have this gift! Many would have long since abandoned the interesting topic of … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments