Sons of Patriarchy Indoctrination Station
Dec 16, 2024
Susan Wise Bauer, a renowned historian and advocate for neoclassical education, teams up with Jill Wright, a K–8 teacher with firsthand experience at The Oaks Academy. They dive into the complexities of 'classical Christian' schooling, examining its pedagogical pitfalls and the dangers of indoctrination. Susan critiques the rigorous yet often developmentally inappropriate methods, while Jill shares personal stories of authoritarian practices. Together, they highlight the importance of teaching critical thinking over conformity and the need for genuine educational engagement.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Classical Education’s Original Purpose
- Classical education originally aimed to form virtuous citizens, not merely to train for jobs.
- Modern shifts prioritized technical training and diluted whole-person formation.
What Neoclassical Education Really Is
- "Neoclassical" blends Greek/Roman trivium with medieval cathedral schooling and 20th-century child development.
- The trivium stages map to child development: grammar, logic, then rhetoric.
Match Tasks To Developmental Stage
- Avoid forcing mature critical tasks onto young children; match tasks to developmental stages.
- Let elementary students absorb facts and delay abstract analysis until their brains are ready.
