We will take with us the words of wisdom we were given by teachers who have taken on Lewis’ charge “not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.” I hope that for each of us, this graduation is not the end of education, but merely a transition. Embracing our spirited nature, let us move on to greater challenges knowing that we’ve begun well.
History and Social Studies: What’s the difference?
If you are a parent, these notes might help you evaluate your child's history class. If you are a teacher in a classical school, they might help you plan your lessons or give you ways to describe the teaching of history to others. If you are a teacher of social studies or a teacher in a non-classical school, this might help you think about two different ways of approaching the same subject.
What’s going to happen to the blog?
Dear families, teachers, and friends, The school year is starting, and for the first time in Founders Classical of Leander's history, I'm not there. Instead I'm on the road with our curriculum and instruction team, meeting a group of teachers and school leaders who are about to do exactly what we did six years ago.… Continue reading What’s going to happen to the blog?
Hillsdale’s New K-12 Classical Education Podcast
Living in a small town isn't that bad, you know. There is a film studio in the basement of the building where we work, and on the first floor we have a radio station. So, without having to go very far at all, this summer we started a podcast, and the first episode is available… Continue reading Hillsdale’s New K-12 Classical Education Podcast
Preview of Hillsdale’s New K-12 Education Video, featuring Founders Classical Academy of Leander
Yesterday I got to see the first cut of the video we filmed at Founders Classical Academy of Leander back in May, just before school finished. The short film will be available on the Founders Classical Academy website, and the full version will be used by Hillsdale College to explain the work of the Barney… Continue reading Preview of Hillsdale’s New K-12 Education Video, featuring Founders Classical Academy of Leander
Backstage in the Hillsdale College Film Studio
Well, Founders community (and perhaps others!), I am now about a month into my new job here at Hillsdale College. As the Assistant Provost of K-12 Education, I'm in charge of the College's K-12 education initiatives, including the Barney Initiative, which has been such an important partner for the Founders community for so long. This… Continue reading Backstage in the Hillsdale College Film Studio
Photos from Graduation 2019
Welcome, Mr. Sowers, Ms. Loy, Mrs. Apel, and Mr. Berndt
Though this is my last week at Founders Classical Academy and leaving is a very difficult thing to do, I am encouraged by the fact that the school will be in very capable hands next year. You already know all of the people who will be leading our school, and they know many of you… Continue reading Welcome, Mr. Sowers, Ms. Loy, Mrs. Apel, and Mr. Berndt
Pictures from Prom 2019
This year our head boys and head girls of the six houses came together to organize our first prom. We've always said that if we going to do something, we should do it well, and this event was worth waiting for. The students used Roberts Rules of Order to conduct their meetings, divided into committees,… Continue reading Pictures from Prom 2019
How We Spent the Seniors’ Last Week at School
Last week was our chance to say goodbye to the class of 2019. In the coming days I'll be publishing the words our Valedictorian and Salutatorian spoke at graduation (they did beautifully), but in the meantime I thought you'd like to see how we celebrated these extraordinary students in their final days at Founders. Throughout… Continue reading How We Spent the Seniors’ Last Week at School