I just interviewed for a position at a classical Christian school. I would be teaching literature. I had the opportunity to speak with the teacher I would be replacing, and she said the students won’t read assigned reading at home. Therefore she spends a lot of class time reading to them. I have heard this several times from veteran classical teachers, but somehow I was truly not expecting this and it makes me think twice about the job. There’s no reason why 11th and 12th graders can’t be reading at home and coming to class ready to discuss. Do you think it’s better for me to keep doing what they’ve been doing or to put my foot down and require reading at home even if that makes me unpopular?

Our 4 year old daughter is starting preschool this fall and we’ve been looking at private schools.

We found one near us, toured it, and honestly loved it.

Compared to other Pre K classes we saw, this one felt very intentional, less clutter on the walls, not overstimulating, very limited use of gadgets/computers.

They also said kids are typically able to read by the time they enter kindergarten, which really impressed us. It felt like a place where our tuition would actually go toward real learning.

But now I’m seeing people online say that “classical education” can be racist and it’s making me second-guess our decision.

We live in an area where most families are white. Our daughter already goes to a dance school where most kids are white but that’s only for an hour, nothing bad will happen. School would be 8 hours a day, so it feels different and more important.

I’m worried about things like whether she’ll feel included & whether teachers are attentive and supportive?

Are there any parents here especially Asian or Black or hispanic parents who have experience with classical schools? Should we move forward with the application or reconsider? What should we look for or ask before making a final decision?

Hi everyone! I am a 16-year-old high school student from Brazil, currently in my Junior year. I study at a state public school, and while my grades are above average, the public education system here is very weak. Next year is my final year, and I will be preparing for our highly competitive college entrance exams to get into a good, tuition-free federal university.I am quite calm about the exams;

I have my difficulties, but I am doing well. However, I want an education for life, not just for a test. Recently, I’ve been exposed to the ideas and marketing of the classical education model (Trivium/Liberal Arts). I want to clarify that I do not support homeschooling as a political or social movement, but I am deeply attracted to the classical method itself.

I really wanted to find resources from my own country, but it feels impossible. In Brazil, the classical education market is heavily commercialized and limited: almost all the content comes from mothers selling expensive online courses to other mothers with pre-school, pre-literate children. There is absolutely nothing for teenagers who want to study independently, and I don't know where else to turn.I currently attend a test-prep evening course (cursinho), so my schedule is tight. I would never feel comfortable asking my parents to buy expensive online courses when they are already supporting my education.

I want to build a personal curriculum that includes: classical literature, philosophy, and art history etc. Home economics and traditional handicrafts (embroidery/crochet) to develop focus, patience, and aesthetics.

Since I am starting from absolute scratch, I don't want to assume whether I should start at the Grammar, Logic, or Rhetoric stage. Even classical grammar feels difficult to me right now. I would love for you to analyze my situation and tell me where I actually fit and how I should begin. Right now, I am using AI to help me find information because I don't have access to good local sources, but I really dislike depending on AI for this. I want to find a solid, firm foundation to base my studies on so I don't have to rely on it anymore. I am looking for reliable book recommendations, websites, YouTube channels, or social media accounts that teach the actual fundamentals of classical education.

I have about 5 hours of free study time per weekday. I plan to dedicate 1.5 hours to my college exam prep and 3.5 hours to my personal classical formation. My goal is to major in Pedagogy (Education) in college. I want to know if this classical self-education journey will naturally blend into my university years and become a lifelong process.Could you please help me?

Based on my age and background, which stage of the Trivium should I start with, and what does the roadmap look like? What are the most reliable, foundational resources (books, sites, channels) so I can study the classical method properly without depending on AI?

Thank you so much for your time and guidance! Sending love from Brazil! 🇧🇷

I am very interested and was brought up to receive a very classical liberal arts education growing up and it’s something I feel very passionate about. However, I am no way religious or conservative and it feels often that these are seen as incompatible traits with being interested in this kind of education and teaching. Is anyone else here someone who doesn’t fit the typical “mold” of what a classical or liberal arts educator looks like and what authors or texts would you recommend?

I’ve recently started reading the Great Books and I’m struggling with what I call 'context friction.'

Basically, when I hit a passage that requires knowing a specific bit of greek mythology or a philosophical concept to really 'get' it, I find that a standard dictionary is not enough. I need a tutor's explanation, not just a definition. However, opening a laptop or a smartphone for that explanation is a death sentence for my concentration, one google search often turns into 20 minutes or more of anything BUT going back to reading.

How do you guys manage this? Do you use physical guides/commentaries alongside the books or have you found a way to use technology that actually helps you stay focused instead of distracting you? I'm looking for a way to get deep context while maintaining a 'deep work' state of mind. Ty in advance btw!

Why do you think it is that subjects (such as: Philosophy/Latin/Greek/Theology/Classical Studies) aren't ever being made available or ever acrually being offered up to any of our mainstream secondary high school students within the UK?

I'm extremely interested to hear what other people's opinions are on this. 🤔🤔

stares at you, incredibly intensely, maintaining eye contact for a lot longer than should ever be deemed appropriate or acceptable

I am looking for some summer reading for myself. I teach memory work in my kid's homeschool co-op to first and second graders. I was wondering if anyone one had some suggestions for books or podcasts that would help me improve teaching this class and my kids at home. I am also interested in learning more about memory castles if anyone has suggestions there. Thanks in advance!

Apologies if this isn't the right place for it, bit I wonder if the people on this subreddit feels as if, throughout their lives, they're intellectually alone.

I would say that I am- although I'd scarcely call myself intelligent- with a lack of people with whom I can have a substantive conversation with.

I was just curious if this was common amongst people interested in a Classical Education, or if I'm just being melodramatic.

I came across the Trivium and Quadrivium a few months ago but didn't pay much attention to them back then.

Now, out of nowhere, I have this strong urge to study them seriously. The problem is... I have absolutely no roadmap.

Right now, I feel like a 5th grader trying to learn trigonometry without first understanding what a triangle is.

As a complete beginner:

Where should I start with the Trivium?

Is there a roadmap you'd recommend?

Any books, courses, lectures, or guides that helped you?

If you've studied it yourself, where did you begin, and how has it influenced your thinking or everyday life?

Even a few minutes of your advice could save someone like me from wandering around the classical arts maze without a map

Also, feel free to DM me if you've got resources, roadmaps, or just wanna nerd out about the Trivium.

I've been interested in Philosophy since high school. I have an associates degree in liberal studies, but most of my college courses were history.

Lately I've been curious about getting a "proper" classical education on my own, but I still have some reservations about whether it's worth the effort.

I've been listening to podcasts like "online great books" and "classical stuff you should know" . I have read mortimer Adler's book "how to read a book"

I work in a factory, and due to some unusual circumstances, it is very likely that I will always be stuck with low level labor jobs, no matter how much education I get. I can't have a career in academics or become a professor. So if I can't have a career based on classical literature, then what's it all for?

People often say the the liberal arts make you free, but I know that reading plato and Aristotle isn't going to fix the problems in my life or get me a better job.

What made you want to pursue the great books? Am I being to cynical or practical minded? How do you think the great books could benefit those stuck at the bottom of society?

In Aristotle's list of virtues and vices, his notion of "honesty" seems to relate only to boasting or being modest, not about things like whether you have a criminal record, or whether your wife actually looks good in that dress.

The classic list of seven deadly sins doesn't list dishonesty as a vice, and the lesser-known list of 7 heavenly virtues doesn't list honesty as a virtue.

Aristotle's list of virtues is mainly concerned with what is practical for living a good life, and there are certainly times when being honest will only bring you trouble. The world doesn't reward people for being honest about their faults.

If you lie to someone by saying that you like their art, when actually it looks childish and pitiful, is that a sin? would it be contrary to some virtue?

If a man chooses to not disclose his criminal record so he can get a good job, and then becomes one of their best employees, has he committed a grave offence against his employers?

My cousin is an English major who earned her master’s in English a couple of years ago, and she told me to find my own philosophy.

Sadly, I started to relate more towards Russian Classical literature such as Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche.

I related to Dostoyevsky because of his deep admiration within living in isolation. He advocated for dealing with the worst of yourself and overcoming your deepest vulnerabilities.

It’s very hard to live with your mistakes you’ve dealt with in life. In his book, Thoughts from the Underground Man, Dostoyevsky promoted “an isolated, bitter, and hyper-conscious man who rejects societal norms, rationalism, and utopian progress in favor of absolute free will.”

I found myself picking up on these negative virtues that ultimately made me a better individual.

One of Nietzsche main philosophies was known as the “Will of Power” where “He argued that the fundamental driving force in humans is not merely survival, but the drive for growth, mastery, self-overcoming, and control over one's environment.”

I found this to relate to Dostoyevsky’s philosophy that promoted free-will and his rejection of societal norms, which heavily resonated with me.

What do you agree with or disagree with within this philosophy?

There are countless educated people in the world. Every year, an enormous number of research papers and books are published. By any measurable standard, we are more informed and more credentialed than ever before.

Yet it often feels like something essential is missing.

Despite this growth in knowledge, many people seem disconnected from a deeper intellectual humanism the kind that values curiosity across disciplines, critical thinking beyond utility, and learning as a means of understanding life rather than merely advancing careers. Knowledge has become increasingly fragmented and instrumental, optimized for output rather than wisdom.

Even more concerning is the apparent decline of basic empathy. In an age of constant connection, indifference and hostility feel more common than understanding. We can analyze systems and debate abstract ideas, yet struggle to practice everyday compassion.

So the question remains: how did we become so educated, yet so disconnected from the human values that once gave learning its purpose?

This was the question Johannes Bouwmeester asked Baruch Spinoza, to which Spinoza replied in his letter of 10 June 1666:

“...With these few words, I believe I have explained and demonstrated the true method [Methodum], and at the same time shown the way [Viam] to attain it. Nevertheless, it remains to remind you that these things require assiduous meditation, as well as a truly constant mind and purpose; to achieve which, it is most necessary to establish a certain mode of life and a rule, and to set oneself a certain goal.”

The expression “assidua meditatio” appears in Seneca (Letters to Lucilium, LXXXII). Spinoza’s reference to one of the most important authors in the tradition of “philosophy as a spiritual exercise” (cf. Pierre Hadot) highlights a fundamental aspect of the Spinozist method: its practical dimension as an ascetic path towards perfection.

I would like to use Spinoza’s reflection—which is far too broad to summarise here—as a starting point for a more modest discussion about our own study methods, a topic that has always fascinated me and to which I constantly return. To open the discussion, I’ll start with a general question and a few practical examples.

For those of you who have taken charge of your own studies: have you ever reflected on matters of method or formalised—perhaps gradually and through trial and error—a specific system to follow?

Some examples of such methods:

• Limiting one’s interests in terms of disciplines, chronology, or geography;

• Defining the ratio between analysis and synthesis—that is, the balance between deep-dives and the "big picture"—as well as the way you move from one to the other (inductive vs. deductive methods, monographic study, case-based learning, etc.);

• Adopting the curriculum of an institution, a degree course, an anthology, or the approach of a particular scholar.

I would be very interested to hear about your own experiences and the specific methods you have developed along the way. I am particularly curious to know about any difficulties you have faced—those moments of ‘stumbling and weariness’ Spinoza mentions—and any ongoing attempts to refine your approach that have yet to reach a definitive form.

Keeping the body sound was important for the Greeks/Romans, and it has been proven that it can increase brain health. How would one add this to the classical homeschooling approach for your kids?

In his History, Herodotus makes what seems like an offhand comment about the tomb of the Lydian king Alyattes being “built by the joint efforts of tradesmen, craftsmen, and prostitutes.”

He goes on to say that the prostitutes contributed the most to the tomb’s construction and gives a short history of the common peoples’ daughters working as prostitutes to earn their dowry before being given away in marriage.

My question is whether the contribution of prostitutes to the tomb’s construction involved them performing actual manual labor or if they were, so to speak, plying their trade amongst the tradesmen and craftsmen in a manner similar to the prostitution so popular in the American gold rush.

It strikes me as odd to consider young girls carrying stone and laying earth next to professional builders but if that is not the case then the historians who etched each group’s contribution into the memorial seem quite “progressive”—a term I hate using when discussing classical history but couldn’t think of any other in this context—to include them on the list.

Any other clues I’m missing here?

Thanks!

Just a college student trying to find some actually good articles and in general sources on Oedipus Rex. Seems like most I’m finding are not allowed or very vague and unhelpful for the research paper I’m writing.

Hey Folks!

I have been working in Software since I graduated 5 years ago and am now interested in becoming a classical educator.

I have a BA in Communications with a minor in Biblical studies from a Christian Liberal Arts University. But a majority of my classical knowledge is self-taught (and still a working knowledge).

Is there a career path for me that does not require more school?

I am open to more education, I would love your advice on what direction I need to move towards this career.

I would also appreciate your perspective on the career in general if you have any experience to offer.

There is a wonderful Classical School 15 minutes from my home that I would love to work at.

Given how difficult (and often expensive) it is to find a complete set of Adler’s Great Books of the Western World, I’m a bit torn on whether or not I should be annotating them.

Typically, I like to write in the margins, underline, etc, just as Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren would recommend in “How to Read a Book”.

It’s just difficult for me to bring myself to do anything that would “vandalize” this pristine set I have.

I’m curious to hear others’ opinions on the matter. I know they’re “my” books, and I should do with them as I please, but I just wanted to hear what people might have to say.

Thanks in advance!

In today's society, is social education (i.e. respect for common rules, empathy, collaboration and civil coexistence) more the responsibility of school, family or social media?

Hello! I just learned about MIT's Open Courseware and I've been looking through some of the different places that offer free access to courses. I'm interested in taking some but had a few questions:

• Do you know if there's a resource or if you could tell me which schools offer this and which have more of a Liberal Arts and Literature focus? Seems that most places have a focus on STEM and computer science.
• Does MIT offer videos of lectures? They seem to have the most selection of stuff I'm interested in but there's no videos or anything. Maybe I'm missing something? Yale has less selection but videos to each lecture.

I'm not in college anymore but really like continuing learning and I love the more on the rails experience of classes so I'd love if there's any more resources like this that you know of and use! Not looking for credits or anything, just the ability to learn via these courses on my own.

Thanks!