It's all well and good, but given the school's cost and target audience, it's still very exclusive and in many ways only adding to the high chances of success for its students. My fear is that smart kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are being left behind. Where are the programs for them and equally as important, their parents?
"Most secular private school parents are bound by a nondisclosure agreement not to publicly talk about the schools their children attend or have attended, which is why no one would criticize their kids’ former places of education."
What is this all about? A private school requiring parents to sign a non-disclosure agreement? What are the schools ashamed of? What do they have to hide?
This would be like Facebook trying to hide the fact that they censor.
We found that California of all places actually has a decent charter school system. The ones we send our kids to have a surprisingly ideology-feee curriculum and keep the parents in the loop about everything. It’s a small school, and lottery based, but it’s an amazing school and the kids love it. Actually impressed our tax dollars result in this. Great small schools and school choice does work. I can’t believe the Democrats and teachers unions are so in bed together. I’d argue they want less parental involvement so they can groom kids in Marxism, anti-racism, intersectionality, and queer theory. Of course they won’t call it that, they’ll call it “liberation, ethnic studies, and affirming identities” or some nonsense like that. “Liberation” is always the code word. James Lindsay calls it the “theft of education.” This is a major factor in us not voting Democrat. School choice, ideology in schools, and Title IX are enough for us to form a strong stance on the matter.
Such a shame that the education these kids are paying so much for is the same education that I received decades ago from my public schools and from my university, something everyone at the time expected and took for granted. We all learned a second language (some learned a third), calculus, philosophy and logic, and history without spin. As a country and society, we've lost so much.
We have four grandchildren, across three cities, that attend Classical Schools. I'm proud that my children have chosen to place their children in these schools (against strong peer pressure). The fruits of these decisions may not be born for years, but I'm confident they will be abundant.
I think maybe it might be ok for the kids to type their work on laptops, and to learn modern research methods they are going to encounter. I also think that the use of screens by teachers in try classroom to show video or play that great classical music is good. I like the curriculum here, but I think there should be a way to do it without regressing entirely to pen and paper. There’s good and bad in everything. Or is that too morally relativist?
Also, missing from the list of subjects taught is history. You know what they say about those who fail to learn from history.
Also- private schools require parents to sign an NDA? This is the first I’ve heard of that, I don’t recall signing one for my kids’ school, but then I don’t live in NYC.
What a brilliant idea-teach skills like critical thinking and effective writing. All steeped in the canon of the freest, most intellectually profound societies on earth.
Wichita Kansas has several classical schools. Concordia Lutheran High School is on It’s third year. My grandchildren go to Classical School of Wichita which is K-12. Both are a delight to observe as to content of the programs and activities and because of the open friendly attitude of the students.
Another instance when I wish I had significant funds to donate - I would happily fund two or three scholars if I could.
thank you, Peter, for this work.
It's all well and good, but given the school's cost and target audience, it's still very exclusive and in many ways only adding to the high chances of success for its students. My fear is that smart kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are being left behind. Where are the programs for them and equally as important, their parents?
The bedrock of great classical education - question, question, question, listen, listen,listen, think, think, think!!!
What would be truly great is having these schools publicly funded ie Charter Schools.
"Publicly funded" = strings attached.
"Most secular private school parents are bound by a nondisclosure agreement not to publicly talk about the schools their children attend or have attended, which is why no one would criticize their kids’ former places of education."
What is this all about? A private school requiring parents to sign a non-disclosure agreement? What are the schools ashamed of? What do they have to hide?
This would be like Facebook trying to hide the fact that they censor.
That is a very scary sentence.
We found that California of all places actually has a decent charter school system. The ones we send our kids to have a surprisingly ideology-feee curriculum and keep the parents in the loop about everything. It’s a small school, and lottery based, but it’s an amazing school and the kids love it. Actually impressed our tax dollars result in this. Great small schools and school choice does work. I can’t believe the Democrats and teachers unions are so in bed together. I’d argue they want less parental involvement so they can groom kids in Marxism, anti-racism, intersectionality, and queer theory. Of course they won’t call it that, they’ll call it “liberation, ethnic studies, and affirming identities” or some nonsense like that. “Liberation” is always the code word. James Lindsay calls it the “theft of education.” This is a major factor in us not voting Democrat. School choice, ideology in schools, and Title IX are enough for us to form a strong stance on the matter.
Such a shame that the education these kids are paying so much for is the same education that I received decades ago from my public schools and from my university, something everyone at the time expected and took for granted. We all learned a second language (some learned a third), calculus, philosophy and logic, and history without spin. As a country and society, we've lost so much.
We have four grandchildren, across three cities, that attend Classical Schools. I'm proud that my children have chosen to place their children in these schools (against strong peer pressure). The fruits of these decisions may not be born for years, but I'm confident they will be abundant.
I think maybe it might be ok for the kids to type their work on laptops, and to learn modern research methods they are going to encounter. I also think that the use of screens by teachers in try classroom to show video or play that great classical music is good. I like the curriculum here, but I think there should be a way to do it without regressing entirely to pen and paper. There’s good and bad in everything. Or is that too morally relativist?
Also, missing from the list of subjects taught is history. You know what they say about those who fail to learn from history.
Also- private schools require parents to sign an NDA? This is the first I’ve heard of that, I don’t recall signing one for my kids’ school, but then I don’t live in NYC.
This is very cool! So glad to see American Jews pick up on the classical education trend. God-speed. 🙏🙏🙏
A much needed gust of reality-based, fresh cultural air. Well done, Emet.
What a brilliant idea-teach skills like critical thinking and effective writing. All steeped in the canon of the freest, most intellectually profound societies on earth.
Lovely, inspiring article, Peter!
Wichita Kansas has several classical schools. Concordia Lutheran High School is on It’s third year. My grandchildren go to Classical School of Wichita which is K-12. Both are a delight to observe as to content of the programs and activities and because of the open friendly attitude of the students.
I wish you could send some of that a bit north! I am in Salina. My granddaughter attends school in Abilene.
Outstanding article that brings hope to a space (education) and to a people (Jewish) where hope is needed more than ever!
An admirable undertaking, but it probably makes too much sense to fly in our shit-for-brains society.