Conversations with Peter Boghossian Katharine Birbalsingh & Ian Row DISMANTLE Low Expectations in Education
May 9, 2025
Katharine Birbalsingh, headmistress of Michaela Community School, and Ian Rowe, founder of Vertex Partnerships Academy, challenge the status quo in education. They advocate for timeless virtues like resilience and wisdom over contemporary narratives of victimhood. The conversation highlights the importance of personal responsibility and civic duty in shaping character. They emphasize creating a culture of courage that empowers students, critiques smartphone policies, and explores the necessity of moral values in education to foster a sense of belonging and ambition.
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Purpose of K-12 Education
- The purpose of K-12 education is to build knowledge, virtue, and agency in students.
- These virtues are best grounded in timeless cardinal virtues like courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom.
Reject Victimhood for Courage
- Rejecting victimhood is key to fostering courage among students in challenging environments.
- This approach counters societal narratives of marginalization, empowering students to persevere.
Strict School Rules for Learning
- Ban smartphones in school and encourage families to avoid giving kids smartphones entirely.
- Enforce silent, quick transitions in hallways to maximize learning time and reduce chaos.