Why I am Passionate about Classical Education

Perspective from a parent and teacher

As with most teachers, I began my career in the public school. I became quickly disenchanted witnessing the lack of commitment the other teachers had for the intellectual development of their students. I accepted a position in a district with a high population of economically disadvantaged students because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of the students and in the community.  To my surprise and dismay, I was often told by the more experienced educators (using the term lightly here) that it was a waste my time and effort. “I’ve taught their parents. They were teen moms or drug addicts, and their kids will be teen moms or gang-bangers and drug addicts, too.”

These comments were spoken by experienced teachers who mentored the young ones. I quickly learned this endeavor would be a battle of the one against the many. So being young and naïve, I left my teaching position depressed and anxious to pursue a more lucrative career elsewhere.

Fast forward several years later, I was married and a mom with two boys in the public schools.  We lived in a blue-collar, middle-class community.  Our school district was not the best in the state, or even the county, but it was not the worst either.  My first realization of the issues within our district was the comments of our son’s first grade teacher. She requested we stop allowing him to read at home.  He was reading far above grade level; his math skills were too advanced, and he was distracted in class.  She was correct, he was reading above grade level, because I, as his mom, began reading to him early.  I played games with him which lead to the development of his language and math skills before he entered school.

I asked if there might be a gifted and talented program for our son.  There was, and he was quickly moved into those programs.  At this time, his younger brother was in the head start program due to delays in his speech and fine motor skill development.  Yet, even with these challenges he, too, was reading and problem-solving above grade level. 

Upon completion of the head start program, we were informed that our younger son would be moved into a special education classroom. I did not understand this decision as he was reading and performing basic math skills above grade level.  He did not require the accommodations of a special education classroom, but could be expected to perform at grade level in a mainstream classroom setting. Denying this request was the last straw, and I informed the school district that we would be removing both our children to homeschool. 

I was accosted with statements like, “you’re not qualified to teach them” or “why would you do this to your children? Don’t you know how devastating this will be to their social development?”  Then the department head of  Special Education questioned me, “What about our funding?” To which I replied, “I don’t give a damn about your funding!”  Perhaps, not the best choice of words, but I was furious.  So we left the public school behind and never looked back.

With this decision facing me, I began researching every homeschool program I could find, which were not as widely available back then.  Our two boys are well into their 20’s now, so the options were not nearly a numerous as they are today.  During my extensive search, I stumbled upon classical education, and was intrigued.  It was a method of education that emphasized language over images.  It was rooted in centuries of wisdom passed down from the ancients, through the renaissance, the enlightenment and beyond.  It was the method used to educate students throughout most of western civilization until the progressive era reforms of John Dewey, but that is for another post.

Our journey began, and my children were flourishing as they continued to develop a love of reading and learning that surpassed even my own.  We attended homeschool conventions and met with other homeschool families. It was a time of fellowship and encouragement while offering our children the opportunity to socialize with other children and gain life-long friends. It was through the forging of these relationships that the Academy of Classical Studies was first conceived. 

With a group of 15 families, we established a homeschool cooperative based in classical education.  The group quickly grew to over 50 families the following year, and upon year three over 100 families joined our group.  My passion for classical education was ignited and the fire would not be quenched.  Our children grew in an educational environment that honored their curiosity and developed their critical thinking skills.  They participated in chess clubs, Odyssey of the Mind, music lessons, and Forensic (Speech and Debate).  They learned logic, argumentation, and developed an appreciation for the arts. In short, our children were not only growing, but thriving.

Many of the parents in our cooperative decided to pursue a private school setting as their older children entered the Rhetoric stage (secondary education). Our family also made the decision to enroll into a private school founded on the principles of classical education. I agreed to teach professionally once again and was fortunate to teach college prep classes in history, literature, composition and philosophy at the same school my teenage children attended.

As I write this now, my children are grown and engaged in their careers while pursuing their entrepreneurial passions.  Yet, the enthusiasm for classical education still burns within me. Now my focus has turned toward inspiring others, whether parents or educators, to provide a classical education for their students.  It is for this purpose that I started Thinking Classically; to encourage parents and educators alike to prepare their students for the future by instilling in them a love of learning while developing critical thought and reasoned argumentation. I invite you to join me in this exciting quest to revitalizing classical education for future generations.