Classical Education

About our GuestsDr. Matthew Post: University of Dallas, Director of the St. Ambrose Center for Catholic Liberal Education and Culture; Assistant Professor of HumanitiesDr. Matthew Bianco: Chief Operations Officer for the CiRCE InstituteDr. Gary Hartenburg: Houston Christian University, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Honors CollegePeach Smith: founder of Sacred HEART Academy, Koinonia Academy: Curriculum Coordinator, Lead Teacher, College CounselorKaren Glass: AmblesideOnline Advisory Committee, Author, Speaker, and Teacher_______________________________Show NotesWhat is virtue according to the tradition? Adrienne invited five distinguished guests: Dr. Matthew Post, Dr. Matthew Bianco, Dr. Gary Hartenburg, Karen Glass, and Peach Smith to discuss the topic of virtue in education. They engage in dialogue to contemplate an understanding of, and perhaps define virtue. Is it possible to teach this hallmark of Classical Education? Are children virtuous for sitting when told? How ought virtue be taught and can it be taught? What’s the practical end of teaching virtue? These are all questions we ponder in this episode to further our understanding of what virtue is and how to attain it. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: What is virtue according to the tradition?How do we define virtue?Elements of virtue according to Plato, Aristotle, and the Bible.Teaching through stories and a caring life.What about the Charlotte Mason perspective of teaching virtue?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeVirtues in Practice programThe Bible-Philipians 4:8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9The Meno by PlatoThe Cratylus by PlatoA Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (first 20 pages)Formation Of Character by Charlotte Mason (Part 4)Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education by James S. TaylorAesop's Fables by AesopThe Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass The Souls of Black Folk (Ch. 6: of the training of black men) by W. E. B. DuBoisThe Education of Black People by W. E. B. DuBoisWorks of Jane Austen such as Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park__________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC. OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. Teaching is an art and teachers need opportunities to cultivate their craft. Parents need to feel confident that their children are receiving the best education possible. Therefore, our goals are to help parents make well-informed decisions about the education of their children, and to help teachers experience true joy in their vocation. We desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Schools: We offer professional development for schools onsite or online. Email Adrienne at BeautifulTeaching@Gmail.com for more information. _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching, LLC. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestsRichard W. Rohlin is an Orthodox Christian, author, podcaster, medievalist, and data analyst living in Grand Prairie, TX. A husband and father, he is the co-host of The Amon Sul Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, regularly contributes to Jonathan Pageau's The Symbolic World YouTube channel, has published several works of fiction and non-fiction, and currently has several projects under development, including a collection of essays called Finding the Golden Key: Essays Toward a Recovery of the Sacramental Imagination. His most recent book, the Akboritha, a work of liturgical mythopoeia, is available from Darkly Bright Press.Dr. Reno Lauro is a Classical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist for Coram Deo Academy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts in 2011, where he wrote on J. R. R. Tolkien’s philosophy of Mythopoeia. For the past ten years, he has worked at the intersection of Humane and Digital learning. After completing his degrees, Theology (MDiv) and History (BA), Reno apprenticed for 18 months on the Palme d’Or winning film The Tree of Life with director Terrence Malick, which transformed his understanding of the Classics, the modern world, and how to communicate the relationship between the two. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels (University of Dallas and University of Arizona) and in both Lower and Upper School classrooms of Classical Schools. Before coming to Coram Deo Academy. He served as the Assistant Headmaster at Saint Peter’s and of a Great Hearts Archway School. He also worked closely with the CEO of the globally recognized BASIS.ed charter schools to create and pilot seminar-style history courses as alternatives to AP classes.  _____________________________Show NotesIn this episode, Reno Lauro and Richard Rohlin introduce us to the fatherly nature of Tolkien. Beginning with a definition of Mythopoeia, we then dive into The Letters of Father Christmas. Richard unpacks a brief history of these letters and how they developed into a full-fledged story about Father Christmas and the happenings at The North Pole. The Spirit of Christmas quickly become the center of our conversations. Our guests discuss the idea that Christmas lore helps us navigate the general hardships of daily life. Reno says, "These tales have teeth in reality and make sense of the life we live." The rich tradition of folk tales, stories, and myth helps us to see the implications of the incarnation and to make sense of the real God we see in the Christ Child. Richard closes by reading from Tolkien's Mythopoeia, saying, "Our whole understanding of the cosmos goes back to Christmas!" from MythopoeiaHe sees no stars who does not see them firstof living silver made that sudden burstto flame like flowers bencath an ancient song,whose very echo after-music longhas since pursued. There is no firmament,only a void, unless a jewelled tentmyth-woven and elf-pattemed; and no earth,unless the mother's womb whence all have birth.Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas in your homeWhat are some misunderstandings about Christmas and Santa Clause?From St. Nicholas to Santa Clause, how ought Christians celebrate Christmas?The origins of Christmas as a pagan holidayReal and true are two different things and they have a necessary relationship to help our children engage the world as an enchanted space. Connect with Richard's Resources:Jonathan Pageau's Symbolic World, Medieval Universal History playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5s4n_lwB8&list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_M2uZP3yW6EEiod3fGD6FD&ab_channel=JonathanPageau Amon Sul Podcast (Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity): https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/amonsul The Akboritha (mythopoeic liturgical fantasy): https://darklybrightpress.com/akboritha/Connect with Reno's Resources:Reno Lauro's blog, Time Out of JointReno's Tolkien's House of Being Facebook PageOther Titles Mentioned:The Letter's From Father Christmas by J.R.R TolkienChesterton's Essay Santa Clause and ScienceChristmas at a Crisis for Civilization by ChestertonA Christmas Carol by DickensThe Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeThe Two Babylons: Or, the Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod by: Alexander HislopMythopoeia by J.R.R. TolkienThe Tree of Life film by Terrence MalickTolkien's essay on The Green KnightAnglo-Saxon Advent poem Christ IDr. Reno Lauro ends our podcast reading the first sentence in this poem. The whole poem is stunning! O Earendel, brightest of angels,sent to mankind over middle-earth,righteous sun's radiance,splendid above all stars! Of thine own selfthou ever enlightenest every age.As thou, God born of God long ago,Son of the true Father, eternally existedwithout beginning in the glory of heaven,so thine own creation cry with confidenceto thee now for their needs, that thou sendthat bright sun to us, and come thyselfto lighten those who long have lived,surrounded by shadows and darkness, herein everlasting night; who, shrouded by sins,have had to endure death's dark shadow.Now, hope-filled, we look for healing,brought to the world's people through the word of God,who was in the beginning with the almighty Fatherequally eternal with God, and now becameflesh, free of failings, born of the virgin,a support to the sorrowful. God was with us,seen without sin; together dweltthe mighty Measurer's child and the son of man,at peace among the people. We may ever addressour thanks to the lord of victory for his deeds,because he chose to send himself to us.Online Courses with Beautiful Teaching Consultants: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022...

About Our GuestJarrid Looney was born and raise in southwestern Virginia until 2004. He then attended Berea College, from whence he graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Theatre and Classical Civilizations. He attended Royal Holloway, University of London for his Master’s Degree and Doctorate of Philosophy in Classics. Dr. Looney has taught English, History, Spanish, Latin, and a plethora of electives. He currently serves as Millennium Charter Academy's Upper School Director. In his free time, Dr. Looney enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, cooking, gardening, and reading. He enjoys all of his hobbies with his wife, Erin, and their children.Show NotesIn this episode, Trae and Dr. Looney discuss how to reimagine education through the lense of Scholé. If you want to understand what is at the heart of a humane education both for students and teachers, this episode will inspire you to embrace scholé as the foundation of a beautiful education. Dr. Looney gives an anechdote of applying scholé in an AP history and literature class while applying the phases of the trivium into the lessons. Dr. Looney emphasizes that the pedagogy and schedule of a school reflect its anthropological position. Administrators need to establish the culture and carefully consider blocks of time for each class in order to lay the proper foundation for scholé. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: Definition and application of scholéWhat is labor and how do we work with joy?How does this philosophical idea of scholé work practically in the classroom with students?What makes real culture and how do cultivate good culture in our learning environment?How does the school administration invite the school faculty into this way of living?Resources and Books Mentioned / Referenced Season 1 Episode 11 on May 6, 2023 Episode with Dr. Gary Hartenburg on Aristotelian Education Aristotle: Education for Virtue and Leisure published by Classical Adademic Press.Leisure the Basis of Culture by Josef PieperThe Devil in the White City by Erik LarsonJohn Senior's 1,000 Good BooksThe Restoration of Christian Culture by John SeniorThe Magician's NephewThe HobbitThe Dead Poet's SocietyOn-line Courses with Beautiful Teaching Consultants: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestDiana Cunningham is the founding headmistress of Lindisfarne Hall, a classical Anglican school in Fernandina Beach, Florida.   Learn more about the good work going on at this school at https://www.lindisfarnehall.com.  NotesIn this episode, Diana Cunningham shares with Trae how a homeschool resource center at a church turned into a full-scale classical Christian school.  From a very young age, Diana was touched by the importance of atmosphere within places of education. Now that she serves as a school headmistress, she can intentionally nurture an atmosphere informed by classical principles, aimed at beauty, and structured by tradition and worship.    Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: Creating an Atmosphere Worthy of 10,000 Hours of a Student’s Classroom Life How Academics Can Create Tunnel Vision Designing a School Schedule as a Christian Oasis Incorporating a Contemplation Period (An Unexpected Student Favorite) How Non-Churched Students Fall in Love With Traditional English Hymns The Faculty is the School The Church as an Authority Learning by Listening to Church Bells The “Hidden Curriculum” Charlotte Mason’s Principals of Education “Socratic Narration” Teaching History with Primary Sources Avoiding Workbooks (How to “Keep the Words in their Habitat”)Initiating Teachers into the Philosophy of Classical Education The Limitations of the Scientific Method The Church Calendar and the Life of the School Sorting Students into Houses (Yes, like Harry Potter)  The Lives of the Saints Resources Mentioned / ReferencedRead More about the Classical Approach at Lindisfarne Hall HereFind Academic Plans and Sample Reading Lists Here Get a Peak into the Life of the School on Facebook On-line Courses with Beautiful Teaching Consultants: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestKaren Glass is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, ages 13 to 27, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason’s methods from beginning to end.  Karen has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years and has written the popular books Consider This: Charlotte Mason and The Classical Tradition,  Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, In Vital Harmony, and her newest book A Thinking Love: Studies from Charlotte Mason's Home Education. Online Consulting and Courses with KarenKaren also serves as a consultant for our podcast support team, Beautiful Teaching: Consulting in Classical Education.She leads a book study for our listeners through our online sessions. Click the links to register for her online Book StudiesJanuary, 2023- Norms & NobilityMarch, 2023- Know & Tell: The Art of Narration _______________________________Show NotesKaren has lead book studies with Norms & Nobility in the past and is well-versed in this seminal book. We discuss why this book is so important and what exactly Hicks is inferrring with his title. We discuss Adrienne's favorite passage in the book and how it impacts our teaching methods.  Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeNorms & Nobility by David HicksConsider This by Karen GlassPlato's RepublicAbolition of Man by C.S. LewisFor the Children's Sake by Susan Sshaeffer-MacauleyHow Then Shall We Live? by Francis SchaefferA Philosophy of Education by Charlotte MasonOn-line Courses with Beautiful Teaching Consultants: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our Guest "Autumn Kern is a wife, mother, and keeper of an actual commonplace book. When she was twenty-one, she sat under a tree with a man who told her the woman he married would homeschool his children. Handsome as he was, she didn’t anticipate being that woman, but here she is with three little ones in tow, and, as in all God’s providential ways, it has been the greatest gift" (TheCommonplacePodcast.com). Autumn writes, produces, and hosts The Commonplace Podcast and Youtube channel.Consider joining a community of Charlotte Mason mother teachers (and Trae) and supporting Autumn's work through Patreon here. NotesIn this episode, Autumn Kern shares with Trae some of her journey from discovering classical education through an internet quiz taken on a lark to becoming someone who delights in reading Plato and Aristotle and putting into practice the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. While Autumn has grown in knowledge and reading abilities, she has not lost touch with the common things of life, including common people. If anything, she finds joy in being a "common mom" called to join The Great Conversation, share in fine culture, and relate rightly to all things in the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. And better yet, she gets to share all that with Mr. Kern and their little kernels. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: What if Education Was Not Utilitarian? Charlotte Mason's Place Within the Classical Tradition Responding to the Herbartian "Mind Bucket"Synthetic Knowledge Before Analytical Knowledge Charlotte Mason's Principal #4: "Authority is not a license to abuse children, or to play upon their emotions or other desires, and adults are not free to limit a child's education or use fear, love, power of suggestion, or their own influence over a child to make a child learn."How What you Motivate With is What You Motivate Towards Moving Backwards Into the Future Searching for "Marks of Authenticity" Solving Problems and Sanctification Through MarriageAvoiding Sin in the Pursuit of IdealsWonder Working Mothers (Doing What's Best for Children)Resources and Books Mentioned / Referenced Grove City CollegeThe CiRCE Institute's Definition of Classical Education Norms and Nobility by David Hicks The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis Confessions by St. Augustine Institutes of Oratory by Quintillian On the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius  Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Jason Barney on Charlotte Mason and the Liberal Arts Tradition Margarita Mooney Clayton on John DeweySean Johnson on Technology in the Home Joshua Gibbs on The Teacher Who Points Karen Glass Brandy Vincel Heidi White   ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestMargarita Mooney Suarez (Clayton)* is an Associate Professor in the Department of Practical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. She founded The Scala Foundation in 2016 and continues to serve as Scala’s Executive Director. Scala Foundation’s vision is to restore meaning and purpose to American culture by focusing on the intersection of artists (culture creators), liberal arts education, and religion (liturgy, personal prayer, theology).NotesIn this episode, Trae and Margarita Mooney Suarez (Clayton) take a closer look at the philosophical underpinning of modern education. The late American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer John Dewey maintains a massive influence on how contemporary schools and families think about learning and the role of the school and its teachers. Dewey’s philosophy of education, while seemingly positive on some points, is ultimately grounded in the denial of the spiritual needs of students and a rejection of tradition. As a result, Dewey's views have contributed to the rise of beliefs and practices that effectively turn teachers into little more than bureaucratic therapeutic reformers, cut off from tradition with little to no approaches to teaching outside the scientific method applied across subjects. Today, most schools strip students of traditional beliefs and practices and expect them to build a future on no sure foundation. If we want to undo the influence of Dewey and restore a common unity between the church, the household, and the school, we will need some help. Enter Jacques Maritain and Luigi Giussani. * Margarita married David Clayton after this recording and now shares his last name.  Some topics and ideas in this episode include:Deep Rot in Our Education System The Influence of Philosophy on Education Jacques Maritain and Luigi Giussani's Concerns with John Dewey Teachers as Beuarocratic Therapeutic ReformersTruth and The Scientific Method   All Education as Moral Education The Freedom to Choose What’s Right Teaching as an Art Common Unity Between Household, Church, and School  Tradition and Authority Deconstruction, Questioning, and Scepticism Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeAfter Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyreA Common Faith by John Dewey Letters to a Young Education Reformer by Frederick M. HessThe Crisis of Western Education by Christopher DawsonThe Burnout Society by Byung-Chul HanEducation at the Crossroads by Jacques MaritainThe Risk of Education: Discovering Our Ultimate Destiny by Luigi Giussani Margarita’s Foundation and Books SCALA Foundation The Acton Institute 28th Anniversary SpeechThe Love of Learning: Seven Dialogues on the Liberal Arts The Wounds of Beauty: Seven Dialogues on Art and Education_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestsDax Stokes is the host of the award-winning podcast "The Vampire Historian," and a frequent lecturer on the topics of Dracula and vampire folklore. As an academic librarian in the North Texas area, he has organized two symposia on vampire studies featuring scholars from across the United States. His published works on Dracula can be found in IndieJudge Magazine, the Fantastika Journal, Vamped.org, and at thevampirehistorian.com. Melissa Smith-Lauro is a corporate writer and content strategist who taught literature & composition at the university level for eight years. She’s the indefatigable mother of four sons who play baseball and attend in-person classes at the Flint Academy in Arlington, TX, and online classes with Miss Esther’s Integrated Homeschool Curriculum through the Classical Learning Resource Center. For fun, she works with local creatives to produce collaborative, beautiful, story-driven multimedia children’s content. Melissa is a proponent of Charlotte Mason principles, classical education content, and Montessori education methods. She is a gentle parenting enthusiast and an advocate for ADHD and autism awareness, accommodation, and inclusion in classical schools. Show NotesTrae and Adrienne invited Dax and Melissa to discuss the two most famous monsters in gothic fiction literature, Frankenstein and Dracula. The big ideas in these classics help us wrestle with what it means to be a human being through exploring the rich stories of these two monsters. What is a monster, and why should we read these books? Should students in classical schools read them? Join us as we explore these two famous monsters and their authors.Be sure to check out The Vampire Historian podcast with Dax Stokes too! Movies MentionedDracula (1992) The Coppola Version- Portrays all forms of DraculaGothic: Movie with Julian Sands and ShelleyMary Shelley’s FrankensteinCount Dracula: BBC 70’s version with Louis JourdanThe Search of Dracula: documentaryDracula Dead and Loving It (Mel Brooks and Leslie Nielson)Nofaratu (destroyed from law suit)Young Frankenstein with Gene Wilder (a Mel Brooks film)YouTube on Albertus Magnus, St. Thomas Aquinas and the Robot Books mentioned1818 version of Frankenstein1831 version of FrankensteinTransylvanian Superstitions by Emily GerardIn Search of Dracula: The History of Dracual and vampires The Icelandic Dracula , 1901 - Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula by Bram StokerSwedish version of Dracula  - not translated into English yetVarney the Vampire (Penny Dreadfuls)The Vampire Book (Now the Vampire Almanac)Dr. John Polidori’s The Vampyre (1819)_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian PhilharmonicSpecial Music: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 561; Public Domain classics sourced from the: https://archive.org/. © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved  ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestFerdi McDermott studied Languages at Edinburgh University before a decade in Catholic publishing in London. In 2002 he founded Chavagnes International College, an international Catholic school for boys (www.chavagnes.org). He now combines leadership of the school with a lectureship in English literature at the Vendée Catholic university, ICES (www.ices.fr). He is pursuing a doctorate in Education through the University of Buckingham.NotesIn this episode, Adrienne and Trae join Headmaster Ferdi Mcdermott on a journey through the French countryside and into the historic site of a Roman villa turned thirteenth-century monastery, turned junior seminary now operating as a Catholic boarding school for boys that offers a classical Christian education for students from all over the world. To support this good work, please visit their website here. Some topics and ideas in this episode include:Living and Teaching in a Place with a Long History Teaching and Modeling Physical, Intellectual, and Spiritual Virtues The Key Role of the Chapel in the Life of a School The History of Classical Education in Europe The Influence of Ancient Egypt on Education Traditional Catholic Education  What Makes a Good Teacher? Why Should Teachers Sing to Their Students? Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeLetters to Captains by Andre Charlier Godliness and Good Learning by David Newsome John Senior on the cultural soil being depleted “The Twelves Virtues of a Good Teacher” by Br. Agathon  The National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)“Lay Catholics in Schools” by The Sacred Congregation of Catholic Education “The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium” by The Sacred Congregation of Catholic Education “Divini Illius Magistri” by Pope Pius XIFerdi’s Favorite Quote (Corrected):“To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.”- St. John Henry Newman Don’t miss Mr. McDermott singing a hymn in honor of St. John Henry Newman at the end! Please Support us on Patreon._________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved  ★ Support this podcast ★

About our Guest: Dr. Matthew Post Assistant Professor of Humanities and Associate Director, Saint Ambrose Center for Catholic Liberal Education and Culture at the University of Dallas. He has spent his career teaching the Great Books of the Western tradition, having worked in Canada, Japan and Slovakia in addition to the U.S. In the Slovak Republic, he had the privilege to build a Great Books program at a school whose mission was to renew classical education after decades of communist rule had obscured the country’s history and traditions. His research explores how best to understand and promote virtue, service and leadership through education. His academic interests include the ancient Greeks, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, the Enlightenment, the American Founding and German Idealism.Show NotesThe art of teaching encompasses freedom which allows for students to rest in a state of wonder. If we allow students to enjoy the ideas that they are learning, it captures the essence of teaching with beauty as the center of the lesson. Beauty is not just about a master teacher conducting a symphony, but about all the teachers and the spirit of the school working in community because beauty has form and unity. As Dr. Post unpacks the transcendentals (truth, goodness, and beauty). He explains that If a soul is disordered, the “good” helps to reorder the soul in order to know beauty. Dr. Post also explores where order comes from. The activity of making sense of an idea leads us to commune with or engage with truths that are unchanging. He builds upon these ideas and how they operate through good teaching. The episode closes discussing the importance of the poetic Homer texts, and how they point us towards what true forgiveness looks like. Some topics in this episode include:What is beauty? and How did the Greeks approach beauty through poetry?What are the transcendentals?How does formation help students to recognize beauty?How do teachers balance The True, The Good, and The Beautiful in classroom instruction?How does constraining or forcing, The True, The Good, and The Beautifu affect a student when they go out into the world?The Greek importance of Kalos Agothas (kalokagathos) for the attainment of virtue through a genuine submission to truth.Approaching education with a spirit of reverence for truth to lay a foundation in beauty.Books & Resources In This EpisodeThe Ethics of Beauty by Timothy PatitsasThe Iliad and The Odyssey by HomerPlatonic Texts:The RepublicTimaeusThe SymposiumFavorite Quote & A book that is neglected: Quote: "I have kissed the hands that slew my children" - HomerA neglected work that is worth looking at: The Captives (a play about slavery) by a Roman comedian, PlautusPlease Support us on Patreon_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★