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Most classical Christian educators talk about truth and goodness. But when it comes to beauty it seems as though it’s not as critical or practical. At most, it’s an excuse to put some nice artwork on the wall. Yet, when properly understood, beauty can be an antidote to much of the rising anxiety so prevalent in our culture. Even more, it is the door to understand truth and goodness. If we want to...

We classical Christian folk frequently  talk about forming virtue in young people. But if we’re not careful, we can bury students in our well-intended rules and academic expectations and never ultimately transform their hearts and what they love. In a world of digital screens with movies and stories all around, we’d better be even better story tellers if we want to be persuasive in forming what ou...

What could be more important than excellent reading, writing, and arithmetic skills? More than ever, we need a generation of students who are cultivated to love what God loves, to think deeply, and to be real world ready. All of that sounds amazing and makes for good open house talks but is there longterm evidence that it actually works? Our guest today, Head of School Jared Squires, has completed...

Culture is always downstream of education. We are reaping today the fruits of what has been taught or not taught in schools. At BCL, we’re big fans of classical Christian education precisely because it gives students what they need to be real world ready rather than sheltering them. Our guest today, Matthew Breazeale of Trinity Academy, completed a doctoral dissertation exploring the reasons why C...

What have we learned from living through the pandemic? Sure, there have been challenges, but also some wonderful discoveries of taking time with family, slowing down, and sharing activities that had been lost in the frenetic shuffle of life. Now, as society reopens, hopefully sooner rather than later, are we going to jump back on the treadmill? In this encouraging episode, Keith McCurdy offers us...

How does reading Homer benefit students in a world gone amok? Shouldn’t we focus less on doing the hard thing and more on the practical needs that stem from living through a pandemic? Chris Schlect, Fellow of History at New Saint Andrews College, reminds us that classical classical Christian education is needed now more than ever. Like the early Christians, parents and teachers must look beyond th...

Which age groups are having the toughest time as school reopens this side of the pandemic? Keith McCurdy is back to address what all students are most worried about and how should parents and teachers respond. In this timely episode, Keith suggests strategies to help kids lean in, understand their new environments, and roll with the changes as they return to school. Listen in to help students of a...

What anchors a school? This is the million-dollar question author Kathleen Kitchin asks of existing classical Christian Schools. Her new book, First Things First: Keeping Your Classical Christian School On Track, reveals the principles and patterns of success she discovered in her research. In this podcast, teachers, staff, and parents will learn how a school can become the educational "alma...

Culture often pressures us to believe that results and outcomes matter more than everything else. This attitude can bleed into the classical Christian school realm and affect our parenting. Josh Dyson, Head of the Classical School of Wichita, urges us to consider Augustine who did not receive the gospel during his formative years. Only years later did his conversion come together with his classica...

Do you have an abundance of Amazon boxes lately? Laurie Detweiler, the Executive Vice President of Veritas Press, offers some creative ideas for you and the special kids in your life. With just a little bit of time and some imagination, parents and grandparents can reinforce skills and history lessons at home. Invite kids to connect anytime via Zoom! Read online together in a different way! Every...

The Pandemic has challenged our idea that we have only two choices: homeschool or brick and mortar. The blurring of the lines means more choices. But what is the parent’s responsibility and what is the school’s, especially when every family is different with varying needs? Marlin Detweiler, Executive Director of Veritas Press, encourages parents to figure out where they are on the new continuum......

How do we build virtue? Our guests today, Dr. Timothy Dernlan and two special students, share practical applications for teaching virtue that sticks and works. They discuss the methods they’ve used to foster virtue and guard against vice. Dernlan’s new book is Classical Christian Virtues: Contemplating the Good Life. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, an...

Someone once said, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” But Keith McCurdy believes it’s the marriage, not mama, that we need to be concerned about. In fact, McCurdy shows how a family’s greatest tool to navigate the Pandemic is marriage. But what if your relationship isn’t as strong as it could be? And this shutdown has added extra burdens? McCurdy’s positive and practical steps can help. Th...

High school seniors’ graduation plans have been highjacked and many college kids are back home due to the Pandemic. So how do we maximize this gift of being together 24/7 while respecting each other’s significant differences? Counselor Keith McCurdy addresses these specific age groups in Part 3 of our Going the Distance Series. Learn how parents can help these little birdies who want to fly the ne...

Teachers are having to turn their teaching methods upside down by going online during this Covid-19 Pandemic. But how do teachers save the day for students without losing their own minds? Many are frustrated with the new platform, feeling self-doubt and missing their students. And what is appropriate and inappropriate when connecting online? Speaking directly to classical Christian teachers, couns...

Are you losing your mind or loving these extended days at home? Either way, you don’t want to miss this episode! Our four part series, Going the Distance, begins today. In light of the quarantine we are currently experiencing due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, our resident counselor Keith McCurdy offers practical advice to parents of grammar school-aged kids. Learn how to better avoid chaos, partner wi...

Good news during a pandemic…everyone gets a front room seat in a recorded session of digital school! We might as well look on the bright side and make the best of these changing educational platforms during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic. Today, Joelle Hodge, who is the Director of the Scholé Academy and an online distance educational expert, helps parents and teachers see how distance learning can be...

As schools lock their doors and families stay home together, parents are asking urgent questions: How do we survive in this world turned upside down due to Covid-19? How do we make the most of it? And how do we help our children not fear what is going on? Counselor Keith McCurdy shares his top five tips for thriving - not just just surviving - during our new reality of being together 24/7. Redeem...

Politicians and advocates appeal to hearts and minds, but are their ideas and ethics worth following? Students in Classical Christian Schools learn that Rhetoric is more than a tool to get your way…and that speech must emanate from the heart. In this episode, Chris Maiocca shares practical tips to teach students this worthy “life skill". As the Instructor of Scripture, Classical Rhetoric, and...

Parents, have you ever bemoaned, “I should…”, “I would...” or “I could have...”? Did you fall for trendy parenting advice that was proven invalid? Ever lost your temper? Mix in the high standards of the classical Christian model and we can set ourselves up for disappointment. Most parents - and teachers, too - wish they could could go back in time and change some of their decisions. But don't beat...

You have to see it - and hear it - to believe it! David Goodwin, our special guest and President of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, shares the newly published results of the highly regarded Cardus Educational study. Cardus, a top research firm commissioned by the ACCS, measured the influence of Classical Christian Schools on graduates up to twenty-five years later. Cardus worked wi...

In today's episode, two adult siblings, Erin Meyers and Brett Jones, reflect on their experience with classical Christian education and its impact on their lives today. While Erin attended public school and Brett attended Faith Christian School in Roanoke,Va. they both see the value that CCE has for real world living. They discuss everything from diversity and freedom of thought to how to read sta...

NYC is not an easy place to run a school. With 900+ private K-12 schools in a city of 8.6 million, the competition is fierce. Yet for the last 24 years, The Geneva School of Manhattan has been serving in the heart of the city as a classical Christian school. Rim Hinckley shares how her vision became a reality and how God provided. She also looks to the future and shares why adding a high school at...

Can you list the top barriers that current or prospective parents have when considering CCE? One Head of School found out by hiring a marketing firm and letting a focus group identify their concerns. Peter Baur, Head of School at Faith Christian School in VA, shares the results and how to respond. Their concerns are valid, but they don’t always know the whole story…listen in today! Stay tuned for...

How do kings, knights and warlords fit with today’s egalitarian values and prepare students for the modern world? Do order and hierarchy have any place? According to David Goodwin, Medieval history teaches children that the world is endowed with a God-given order. Even C.S. Lewis knew this and filled his books with Medieval meaning. Listen in to hear how studying this astounding time period can ca...