Rob Jackson Director, Institute for Classical Education One month ago, we gathered in Phoenix for the 2nd annual National Classical Education Symposium, where we explored “The Historian’s Craft and the Art of Teaching History.” One of our informants, Dr. Wilfred McClay, was delighted by the conversation we hosted and the colleagues we invited. McClay’s new book, Land...
Stay safe. Stay at home. And, the most important thing: stay connected and inspired.” Those parting words from an online post by the conductor of the LA Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel—which got me thinking about the sources of inspiration we might draw upon, at this peculiar time. For Dudamel, his inspiration comes from making beautiful music. And,...
Last spring, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mrs. Magatte Wade, who was offering a series of lectures at Arizona State University’s Center for the Study of Economic Liberty. From her international studies and under the influence of a few insightful teachers, Wade has come to see the immense value of a Socratic form of education, which she...
The following entry is from our colleague, Dr. Benjamin Storey (Furman University). Dr. Storey’s experiences with a great teacher, Dr. Leon Kass (University of Chicago), helped set the course of his life as a scholar and a humanist. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing my teacher, Dr. Leon R. Kass, on the subject of his...
One of the challenges we face in our current moment might be best described as a kind of collective obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite the enormity of the world, only a few subjects utterly dominate the media, driving everything else from the field. And we respond, endlessly, compulsively, obsessively. As a wag once said, “Big Brother is...
With her usual style and wit, poet Marianne Moore explains why “Poetry” can be such a perfectly contemptuous form. After all, it can be nearly impenetrable, often paradoxical, and seemingly condescending to the uninitiated. Yet, in spite of poetry’s sometimes inscrutable ways, Moore acknowledges its clarifying role in our collective consciousness--i.e., the best phrases and most...
“Something happens and you take it personally and get upset; something happens, you don’t take it personally and you don’t get upset. That’s 25 years worth of therapy in a sentence.” That one liner might be worth its weight in counseling fees, and you can hear it in the middle of the interview between psychologist Dr....
Today we’re reposting an interview conducted at this year’s National Classical Education Symposium in Phoenix. Joining me for a few minutes is Dr. Karen Taliaferro, to discuss her scholarship and the story that led her to that research. From her Peace Corps experiences in Morocco and her quest for a deeper understanding of knowledge, Taliaferro research...
If you find yourself with more time to observe the natural world--taking walks and hikes at sufficient social distance--you might also be interested in some careful observations surrounding the 19th century’s most famous naturalist, Charles Darwin. From David Quammen’s NYRB review of three new books on Darwin, we discover that botany was definitely the focus of...
Today we are reposting an interview with historian Patricia Limerick, whose research and scholarship focuses on the American West. We spoke with Professor Limerick at this year’s Symposium 2020. Limerick is a prolific award-winning author, whose scholarship is supplemented by a regular column in The Denver Post. A recognized leader within the historian’s guild, Limerick served...