The Institute

The Institute

The Institute for Classical Education exists to promote civic and personal virtue through the strengthening and expansion of classical education. Drawing upon ancient wisdom, contemporary scholarship, and the practical experience of nearly two decades of experience at Great Hearts Academies, the Institute produces the publications, resources, events, and trainings designed to advance the K-12 classical movement. Our goal is to expand the reach and deepen the understanding of classical education in America, and to triple the number of K-12 students receiving a classical education in the next decade, from 500,000 (currently) to 1,500,000 by 2030.


What is Classical Education?  Classical education takes a unifying approach to intellectual and moral formation by developing both the mind and the heart. Through the study of languages, the sciences, history, mathematics, literature, and fine arts, classical education helps students recover a sense of wonder in their search for knowledge, alongside a deeper purpose—namely, the pursuit of wisdom and development of virtue. Over the past decades, classical education has enjoyed a rebirth in the form of religious schools, secular charter schools, and homeschooling families. In many cases, entire communities have rediscovered a hidden treasure from the not-too-distant past: a form of schooling that shaped generations of children prior to the 20th century.


Keeping up with Classical  The Institute serves as a meeting point for parents, teachers, scholars, school leaders, and philanthropists interested in classical education. We provide a range of resources, including:

  • VIRTUE, a free quarterly magazine with the insights of scholars and practitioners. Sign up or browse back issues here.
  • The National Symposium for Classical Education, a yearly national conference open to all involved in classical education to share research, ideas, and best practices.
  • Scholarly papers and talks from Advisors, Fellows, and Symposium presenters, as well as research produced in service to classical education.
  • A regular blog, including book reviews, teacher interviews, scholarly insights, and more. Read it here.

 

Our Team Dr. Robert L. Jackson Dr. Robert L. Jackson serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Classical Education. For a dozen years, he served as a professor of English and education at The King’s College (New York), training future teachers in the rudiments of educational history and philosophy—i.e., the great books and the liberal arts.  Dr. Jackson’s research interests include the historical development of liberal education; the interdisciplinary integration of poetry; and the early 20th century debates between progressives and classicists concerning public schools. His articles and essays have been published in Society, Academic Questions, Mythlore, and Comment. He has also contributed a chapter on the classical charter movement to The War on Poverty: 60 Years Later (Heritage Foundation, 2019) and a case study on classical education in Understanding Character Education and Personal Development: Applications, Approaches, and Issues (McGraw-Hill, 2021).  Dr. Jackson has received awards for teaching excellence at Florida State University and The King’s College. His administrative experience includes the oversight of two university language programs, coordination of a childhood education degree, and service as an associate provost. In 2021, Dr. Jackson received the Heritage Foundation’s Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship, “in honor of his significant work to protect and advance American values through education by teaching and promoting the use of classical education in the classroom.”  After hours and with leisure, Rob can be found reading, reciting poetry, and running to keep up with his wife and five children—all of whom love to travel and explore the wonders of nature.   Ann Ny Matsuda Ann Ny Matsuda is the Operations Manager for the Institute and the Registrar for the APEX Program for School Leadership. She oversees the operational flow of information management, budgeting, and reporting; serves as the event planner and logistics manager for the annual National Symposium for Classical Education; and, as Registrar, she provides platform access, communication updates, and operational support. She is deeply interested in ways to improve organizational efficiency, in order to more effectively “make the case for classical.” For over fifteen years, Ann Ny worked with food-related companies in brand marketing, copy editing (of cookbooks!), and recipe development for food packaging. She received national and regional awards in baking and cooking contests and has contributed to several cookbooks. She enjoys travel with her family, reading, and cooking. But, her greatest joy is in bringing order out of chaos. Now, she brings her passions, skills, and experiences together in supporting the mission of the Institute: promoting liberal education and a well-lived life.  

 

VIRTUE

VIRTUE is the flagship publication of the Great Hearts Institute. It shares outstanding scholarship and first-hand stories from leaders, teachers, and students of classical education—all to inspire the continued pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.

Subscribing to VIRTUE’s mailing list is absolutely free.

VIRTUE Magaizine Issue 15

Sign up today for your copy and join 35,000+ teachers, leaders, and friends of K-12 Classical education.