What is Classical Christian Education? with David Diener

“What is classical Christian education?” sounds like an easy question, until you try to answer it.

In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Dr. David Diener, professor of education at Hillsdale College and executive director of the Alcuin Fellowship, to offer a clear, grounded explanation of what classical Christian education is and what it is not. They explore why this approach begins with the purpose of education, not just the methods, and how it aims to form students into a certain kind of human being, equipped to live well in this life and the next.

You will also hear how classical Christian schools differ from many modern models that treat education primarily as a transaction for career readiness, and why “integration” matters more than adding spiritual elements onto an otherwise secular framework.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why the goals of education shape everything else, curriculum, culture, and classroom life
• How classical Christian education connects belief and practice so formation is not an afterthought
• Why “you have to see it” is often the best explanation, and what to look for when you visit a school
• How this approach prepares students for a rapidly changing world, including AI, by prioritizing thinking, communication, and wisdom
• What distinguishes a truly classical and truly Christian school beyond slogans and aesthetics

If you have ever struggled to explain classical Christian education to a neighbor, a grandparent, or even yourself, this conversation gives language for what many families sense: this is not nostalgia, it is a living tradition that forms students for faithfulness, clarity, and courage.

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