Classical Et Cetera

Is grammar the rules that define language or the language itself? How does grammar fit into the seven liberal arts and the trivium? What role does grammar play in a classical education? In this episode, "What is Grammar?", Shane Saxon and Mitchell Holley answer these questions, and more. Join us as we discover the true meaning and importance of the seven liberal arts. To many, the liberal arts are foreign concepts. To those versed in the classics and classical education, the liberal arts are common knowledge. However, both new and veteran must have a nuanced understanding of the liberal arts. Discovering the Seven Liberal Arts aims to uncover the true meaning and place of the Trivium and the Quadrivium. In this six part series, "Discovering the Seven Liberal Arts," we define the terms, explain the means, and highlight the impacts of the seven liberal arts.

What are the seven liberal arts, and why do Classical institutions around the world hold them so dear? Is Dorothy Sayer's model of education rooted in the seven liberal arts? What does it mean to have a liberal arts education? Join Shane Saxon and Mitchell Holley as they discuss the true meaning and place of the Trivium and the Quadrivium. In this six part series, "Discovering the Seven Liberal Arts," we define the terms, explain the means, and highlight the impacts of the seven liberal arts. In this first episode, Shane and Mitchell delve deeper into the the broad question, "What are the Seven Liberal Arts?"

Classical Et Cetera: Season 1 had many great moments as friends and colleagues sat down to discuss the ins and outs of Classical Education. Shane Saxon brought in amazing guests to cover a broad range of topics, from Greek Tragedies to farming. We hope you’ve enjoyed this first season of Classical Et Cetera!    Classical Et Cetera will continue into Season 2 this coming Fall, so make sure to subscribe and enable notifications so that you don’t miss out when we return with Classical Et Cetera: Season 2!

Today, Shane Saxon sits down with Paul Schaeffer to discuss what it means to be a good leader. They also answer the question, “does Classical Education create leaders?” All this and more in this episode of Classical Et Cetera.

In this episode, Dustin Warren joins Shane Saxon in the studio to talk about top moments from 1500-1800 A.D. in Classical Education. The period after the Middle Ages (or the Great Middle as Dustin calls it), 1500-1800 A.D. offers many fun stories that encourage a breadth of history knowledge. Listen in as Dustin eloquently recounts these stories!

In this episode, Mitchell Holley joins Shane Saxon in the Classical Et Cetera Studio to discuss why moral philosophy is critical for understanding Classical Education. Shane and Mitchell discuss the question, “why care about moral philosophy?”, and Mitchell brings light to the sometimes unfamiliar world of moral philosophy.

In this episode, Shane discusses with Jon Christianson whether writers should use the passive voice. Jon wrote an article entitled, “A Defense of the Passive Voice”, wherein he argues that the passive voice is proper to use in some cases. However, Shane takes issue with this argument. You’ll hear Shane and Jon debate the use of the passive in writing, especially in relation to younger students.

In this episode, Shane Saxon and Tanya Charlton remember the inspiring life and legacy of Memoria Press and Highlands Latin School Founder Cheryl Lowe. Memoria Press was founded by Cheryl Lowe. Cheryl was the author of the popular Latin programs Latina Christiana, Lingua Angelica, and the Latin Forms Series, as well as The Greek Alphabet, Classical Phonics, First Start Reading, English Grammar Recitation, and other programs. She and her husband, Jim, were married for forty years and have two sons. Cheryl discovered Latin when she homeschooled her sons and was the self-styled apostle of Latin, claiming that Latin has more educational value than any other subject you can teach your children. Cheryl graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in chemistry and from Western Kentucky University with an M.S. in biology. Cheryl had wide teaching experience, in both content and venue, teaching everything from phonics, reading, math, Bible, and chemistry to Shakespeare and Latin, and teaching in public and private schools, as well as homeschooling. Cheryl and her son Brian founded Memoria Press in 1994, and in 2000, the highly successful Highlands Latin School, where the Memoria Press products are taught and field-tested. Cheryl spent many years overseeing the development of the Memoria Press Classical Core Curriculum for home, Christian, and cottage schools, and her memory and example continue to daily inform the mission and vision of Memoria Press. You can read more about Mrs. Lowe here.

In this episode, Shane talks with Martin Cothran about his article “What is a Curriculum?” published by Memoria Press. In the article, Martin outlines the elements that make a successful curriculum. Shane follows up on this article, asking Martin about “what got left on the cutting room floor?” If you enjoy Martin’s writing on the many facets of Classical Education, you’ll love this episode.

In this episode, Shane Saxon continues his conversation with Kyle Janke, an English teacher at Highlands Latin School, about the significance of William Shakespeare’s King Lear in Classical Education. Both Shane and Kyle love The Bard’s plays, and they discuss the narrative structure of King Lear from the perspective of classical educators. This episode is part two of two, so if you haven’t heard the first episode, you can listen to it here: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-vhbme-fd4345