It’s becoming more and more common for schools to assign short stories or excerpts from textbooks. Or, if students do read an entire book, they do so individually rather than journeying through a novel altogether as a class. So why read whole books? Why have everyone in the class read the same thing? What makes this distinctly classical?

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Paul Fisher, the Headmaster of Capstone Classical Academy - a new Classical Christian school located in Fargo, North Dakota. As someone who works at a public classical charter school, I was keen to hear the perspective of someone working to bring classical education to students and families on a private, religious platform.

Have you ever classified yourself as “not a math person”? Have you ever heard your child say that about themselves? If so, I have the perfect book for you.

Friendship is often thought of as a virtue that comes most naturally to children. However, it needs careful tending, because the virtue of friendship is not just something that we possess, but requires that we do something - namely, be a friend.

“What can we do in the meantime?” This is a fair and important question to ask; families who have really seen something in classical education know that it offers things that they want in their children’s lives right now. They know that classical education deliberately challenges students, so they want to get their children prepared for success. 

In my experience, parents can tell a lot about a school from just a few simple questions. I’ve compiled a list here of essential questions to ask on a tour - they are also some of my favorites to answer.

Allow me to introduce you to one of the giants of classical education. Meet Dorothy Sayers - she contributed massively to the classical education movement by explaining so many of the “hows” and “whys” behind the teaching philosophy.

There are some things that can be helpful specifically for classical students to start the year off on the right foot. Used in the long-term, these habits will help to support and foster a truly classical life at home, month after month.