Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Jason Bedrick, a Research Fellow in the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom. Jason talks about how he became interested in public policy and his experience studying public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He explains what school choice is and why 2021 was declared a breakthrough year for school choice. He discusses the skepticism surrounding school choice and how school choice benefits low-income and minority students. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by John S. Pistole, President of Anderson University. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Pistole was placed in charge of the FBI’s counterterrorism program, eventually becoming the FBI’s Executive Assistant Director for National Security. In 2004, Pistole was named Deputy Director of the FBI. He discusses his experience serving as Deputy Director at a crucial time in American history and recalls the tragedy that occurred on 9/11. He explains how his role as Deputy Director prepared him to be President at Anderson. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Caroline Andrews, a rising sophomore at The Master’s University. Caroline discusses attending public school for 13 years until discovering classical education through a CLT practice test. She explains the difference between the SAT and the CLT, and how the CLT taught her that education is formative. Caroline states that the mission of public education is to teach students to excel in worldly things, while classical education teaches you how to be a responsible person.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr.  Michael P. Krom and Dr.  Jason Jividen of St. Vincent College. They discuss the presence of Benedictines on campus, and how that impacts student life and campus culture. They also talk about the future of brick and mortar colleges, and why virtual schools will not replace physical buildings. Dr. Krom and Dr. Jividen state that a physical campus is important in helping students build relationships and communities. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Alexandra Hudson, curator of Civic Renaissance. She discusses her early education, which consisted of homeschool, public school, and charter school. She also shares her experience working in the US Department of Education and the disillusionment it caused. She states that although she was excited to make a change in education through her role, the Department of Education seemed to have other priorities. It was much more bureaucratic, and had little regard for the human aspect of education. Alexandra also talks about her newsletter Civic Renaissance, politics, and her books. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Jonathan J. Sanford, President of the University of Dallas. President Sanford discusses characteristics that make UD special, such as its vibrant student life culture and its core curriculum. He explains that at UD students are taught to think and write well by engaging in conversation with others. President Sanford thinks that modern society has lost the art of arguing without quarreling, and that the classical tradition is one of conflict. He states that students must know others' opinions and thoughts well in order to argue against them. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Rachel are joined by Mr. Kris Bex, President of The Remnant Trust. The Remnant Trust is an public educational foundation that shares an actively growing  collection of manuscripts, first edition and early works dealing with the topics of individual liberty and human dignity with some pieces dating as early as 2500 B.C.  Mr. Bex discusses the importance of touching original documents, the growing hostility towards the Classics, and how the Classics bridge the divide between different political beliefs. He also shares his thoughts on the long-term implications of students not reading old texts. 

On this episode of Anchored, Tracy is joined by Dan Scoggin, Co-Founder of Great Hearts Academies. Dr. Scoggin discusses founding Great Hearts, its mission, and its foundation of teaching students ordered joy. He also discusses the six loves of Great Heart Academies, the core values that drive the entire organization. Dr. Scoggin states that a classical education at Great Hearts seeks to unifiy intellectual excellence and moral excellence, and that one cannot exist without the other.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Adam Mangana, Executive Director of  Optima Domi and co-founder of Optima Classical Academy (OCA), the world’s first-ever virtual reality charter school. Mangana discusses his reasoning behind launching a school that is virtual, stating that many students do not have access to classical education through attending a physical school and that virtual reality will make education more accessible. He also states that he recognizes the dangers of VR technology, and that classical education will serve as a moral guide as more people start to use it. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Pat Wesolowski, a homeschool specialist at Bryan College. Mrs. Wesolowski discusses her experience of homeschooling her children at a time when homeschooling was illegal, and the positive impact it had on them. She also shares advice for new homeschooling parents, and things she wishes she had done differently. Mrs. Wesolowski also explains the benefits of the CLT for homeschooling families and issues with the SAT and ACT.