Classical Education

Guest BiographiesDr. Laura Eidt received her BA in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Hamburg (Germany) and her MA and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been teaching Spanish, German, Comparative Literature, and Humanities at the University of Dallas since 2006 and has published on German and Spanish poetry and on ekphrasis. For many years she taught an applied foreign language pedagogy class that sent students to local area schools to teach their language to elementary children, and she was a mentor at a bilingual school in Dallas for four years. Her courses include classes on foreign language pedagogy, teaching classical children’s literature, and great works in the modern world. She is the faculty advisor for UD's Classical Curriculum team and is currently writing a Latin curriculum for K-5rd grade.Robin JohnstonRobin Ann Johnston is a daughter, sister, wife, mother of five, grandmother of four (so far,) and a convert to Catholicism.  She graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans in 1985, cum laude, with a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Psychology and a minor in music. When her children were all old enough to go to school, she returned to the workforce as a teacher for Mount St. Michael Catholic School (MSMCS) in south Dallas. Robin taught mostly ELAR and World History during her years there, for grades ranging from 4th to 12th. As the lead middle-school teacher, she was instrumental in transitioning the school’s culture and curriculum instruction to a classical model. During those decades, Robin was given the “Work of Heart” award for excellence in teaching (twice) by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.  After retiring from teaching full time, she began writing classical ELAR and Humanities curriculum lessons and novel study guides. Robin’s passion is for igniting students’ hearts with a love for learning and helping teachers have a toolbox of ideas that are easy to use while making a real difference in the classroom.  She is now working on a master's degree in Humanities and Classical Education. In her free time, she likes to craft, read, swim, and, along with her husband of 35 years, babysit the grandchildren. Show NotesIn this episode, Adrienne, Robin, and Laura continue their conversation on teaching literature. They delve deep into the art of narration, responding to common objections, and ways to use narration as a life-giving assessment.     Some topics and ideas in this episode include:How to Assess NarrationsRead-Aloud RecommendationsModeling Delight and Play Through Narration What is a “living book”?Is Narration Just a Tool? What About Violence in Fairy Tales? Book Recommendations for Pre-K - Elementary, Middle School, and High School  Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisInstitutes of Oratory: or, Education of an Orator by Quintilian Pre-K - 5 Eric Carle Jan BrettTasha Tudor Jerry Pickney Astrid Lindgren (Dr. Eidt’s favorite) George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin (Librivox Recording) The Wise Women Undine The Complete Tales of Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne Audio Drama with Judy Dench, Stephen Fry, et al. Rabbit Ears Radio Barbara Cooney Ingrid D'AulairesWilliam Steig Beatrix Potter

Guest BiographiesDr. Laura Eidt received her BA in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Hamburg (Germany) and her MA and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been teaching Spanish, German, Comparative Literature, and Humanities at the University of Dallas since 2006 and has published on German and Spanish poetry and on ekphrasis. For many years she taught an applied foreign language pedagogy class that sent students to local area schools to teach their language to elementary children, and she was a mentor at a bilingual school in Dallas for four years. Her courses include classes on foreign language pedagogy, teaching classical children’s literature, and great works in the modern world. She is the faculty advisor for UD's Classical Curriculum team and is currently writing a Latin curriculum for K-5rd grade. Robin JohnstonRobin Ann Johnston is a daughter, sister, wife, mother of five, grandmother of four (so far,) and a convert to Catholicism.  She graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans in 1985, cum laude, with a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Psychology and a minor in music. When her children were all old enough to go to school, she returned to the workforce as a teacher for Mount St. Michael Catholic School (MSMCS) in south Dallas. Robin taught mostly ELAR and World History during her years there, for grades ranging from 4th to 12th. As the lead middle-school teacher, she was instrumental in transitioning the school’s culture and curriculum instruction to a classical model. During those decades, Robin was given the “Work of Heart” award for excellence in teaching (twice) by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.  After retiring from teaching full time, she began writing classical ELAR and Humanities curriculum lessons and novel study guides. Robin’s passion is for igniting students’ hearts with a love for learning and helping teachers have a toolbox of ideas that are easy to use while making a real difference in the classroom.  She is now working on a master's degree in Humanities and Classical Education. In her free time, she likes to craft, read, swim, and, along with her husband of 35 years, babysit the grandchildren. Show NotesIn part one of this two-part episode, we reconsider the foundations of good reading with the help of influential thinkers like C.S. Lewis and Mortimer Adler and think about how an overabundance of “screen time” paired with modern “reading strategies” and a focus on “college prep” pale in comparison to the potential for life transformation within the classical tradition.    Some topics and readings in this episode include:How can we become good readers? Why is beauty harder to analyze than truth? What role should “vocabulary words” play in our approach to teaching literature? “College Prep” vs. Pursuit of Transcendence Reading and the Fear of GradesThe Role of Morals and Virtues in Teaching Literature The Origin and Place of Plot Analysis Is it ever ok to skim when reading? Narration and Picture Study Readings and Resources An Experiment in Criticism by C.S. Lewis How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins Heidi by Johanna SpyriAesop’s Fables Little Red Ride Hood  _________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestMariah Martinez has worked in education since 2015 as a teacher, curriculum developer, and mentor teacher. Mariah was introduced to a progressive version of classical education through her high school's International Baccalaureate program. She was later immersed in a traditional classical atmosphere through her honors program in college. Mariah attended the Honors College at Houston Baptist University, where she received a B.A., double majoring in philosophy and English. She also holds an M.A. in humanities with a concentration in classical education from the University of Dallas. She is certified as a 7-12 ELAR instructor in Texas with an additional ELL (English Language Learner) supplement. Currently, she teaches at a Founders Classical charter school in Northeast Texas and works as a freelance consultant for Beautiful Teaching. Show NotesIn this episode, Adrienne, Trae, and Mariah have a wide-ranging conversation about establishing the proper relationship between teacher, student, and text. Mariah is admittedly not the "fun teacher." Still, students enjoy her classes, make discoveries in her classroom, and learn to take up a posture of humility and understanding toward the stories and ideas she teaches.            Some topics and ideas in this episode include:Rewards and Risks of Class Discussions How to Respond to Ideological CommentsHow to Foster a Posture of Understanding The Role of Narrative Across SubjectsAvoiding the Infantilization of TeenagersAn Engaging Approach to Narration  Mariah's Online Course - Teaching Disputation: Well-ordered Thinking for a Disordered World Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher MarloweBeautiful Teaching Online Courses Mariah's Favorite Quote:  "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." – Henry David Thoreau_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestKiernan Fiore has worked as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, and curriculum developer since 2011. After receiving a Charlotte Mason classical home education, she earned a BA in English (summa cum laude) from Hillsdale College and an MA in English (Merit) from King's College, London. She is certified in 4-8th Grade ELAR and Social Studies in Texas. She began her teaching career at a private Charlotte Mason school and since then has worked in private, charter, and virtual schools to promote the benefits of classical education. Currently, she works as a freelance consultant for Beautiful Teaching and writes for the City of Ladies newsletter. Show NotesIn this episode, Adrienne and Trae enter into a critique of neoclassical education, joined by Kiernan Fiore. Together, they consider how educators in the renewal of classical education can reflect on how the wholesale adoption and systematizing of one Dorthy Sayers essay has led to critical departures from the tradition. In this conversation, we claim that Charlotte Mason affirmed and restored person-honoring principles and practices from the classical tradition in her time. We also point out that neoclassical education in practice tends to suffer from a pragmatism inherited from progressive philosophies of education. Finally, Kiernan paints a beautiful picture of the proper relationship between systematic lesson planning and teaching in the spirit of classical education.            Some topics and ideas in this episode include:Classical vs. Neoclassical Classical Education Appropriate for Our Time State and Societal Pressures on Parents and Teachers Teaching Classically in a Nonclassical School The Christian baptism of classical education Neoclassical vs. Classical Narration Systems vs. Conversations within Relationships Narration as Assessment or Art? Lesson Planning in the Spirit of Classical Education Resources and Books & Mentioned In This Episode“The Lost Tools of Learning” by Dorthy Sayers  Jason Barney on Charlotte Mason, Modern Science, and The Classical Tradition“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost Beautiful Teaching Online Courses Kiernan’s Favorite Quote:  "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life." - Charlotte Mason’s Parents' National Educational Union motto _________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About Our GuestJason Caros serves as the headmaster at Founders Classical Academy. He graduated from Florida State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in History and Religion. He also holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Caros was a high school history teacher and a district-level curriculum administrator for more than fifteen years. In 2012, he was selected by Hillsdale College's Barney Charter School Initiative and Responsive Education Solutions to serve as the first headmaster of Founders Classical Academy, a K-12 grade classical charter school in Lewisville, TX.  Mr. Caros attributes the growth and success of the school to the efforts of an excellent faculty and staff, supportive parents, dedicated students, and the work of its parent organization, Responsive Ed. In addition to his headmaster duties, Mr. Caros loves to teach his high school Western Civilization I class. Mr. Caros lives in Flower Mound with his wife and children; his daughter is a Founders alumna, and his son attends Founders as a rising junior.Show NotesIn this episode, Adrienne and Trae meet with headmaster Jason Caros to discuss the American Classical Charter School model. Founded initially as a Barney Charter School Initiative in American Classical Education, Founders Classical Academy in Lewisville, Texas, is an example of a thriving charter school. They are part of the Responsive Education Solutions (RES) charter schools community with a mission to provide education options that promote a free society with moral and academic excellence. Mr. Caros shares stories about how a love of learning and reading paired with patriotism bring his community together. Mr. Caros describes how commencements, holiday programs, and events focused on civic virtue give shape and meaning to the life of his school.  Furthermore, Mr. Caros explores the qualities of a good teacher pertaining to the classical categories of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. Mr. Caros explains how the stability of his school rests on consistency in the faculty and maintaining ongoing alumni relationships. Some questions in this episode include:What are the qualities of a good headmaster?How do you foster deep conversations in pursuit of the highest good in your particular context?What is at the heart of American Classical Education?How do you retain teachers?How do you support your faculty?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeDante’s Inferno by Dante AlighieriParadise Lost by John MiltonThe Divine Comedy by Dante AlighieriShakespearean Plays by William Shakespeare The Abolition of Man by C.S. LewisNicomachean Ethics by AristotleRepublic by PlatoCicero by PlutarchThe Roots of the American Order by Russell KirkVideo: Jordan Peterson interviews Yeonmi ParkThe Bill of RightsThe Constitution of the United States of America The Restoration of Christian Culture by John SeniorNorms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education by David V. Hicks_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: SaraSant'' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestMr. Barney serves as the Principal of Coram Deo Academy in Carmel, IN. In 2012 he was awarded the Henry Salvatori Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Hillsdale College. He completed his MA in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College, receiving The Tenney Award in New Testament Studies. Before coming into his current position, Jason served as the Academic Dean at Clapham School, a classical Christian school in Wheaton, IL. In addition to his administrative responsibilities in vision, philosophy, and faculty training, Jason has taught courses in Latin, Humanities, and Senior Thesis from 3rd-12th grades. He regularly speaks at events and conferences, including SCL, ACCS, and the CiRCE Institute. He has published A Classical Guide to Narration with the CiRCE Institute and A Short History of Narration through Educational Renaissance, where he blogs regularly on ancient wisdom for the modern era.Show NotesJason Barney places Charlotte Mason squarely within the classical tradition. In this conversation, Jason points to multiple attestations within the classical tradition and contemporary science that demonstrate that Mason was on to something right in her philosophy and practices. In our conversation, Jason lays out some of the problems with the modern factory education model. He explains how the art of narration fosters what contemporary scientists call "durable learning" or deep and lasting knowledge retention. Jason also takes on Bloom's Taxonomy and explains how it risks enshrining the teacher in modernism when they would be better served reading The Abolition of Man. Some topics in this episode include:Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition Modern Education Movements: Ruseau, Pestalozzi, John Lock, Monstasori Lessons from Contemporary Psychology and Neuroscience Narration, Retrieval Practice, and Durable Learning Practicing Narration in the Classroom Why Students Can't recall What They Just Read/HeardProblems With the Factory Model of Education Narration Leading to Good ConversationsProblems with Blooms TaxonomyMaking Time to Read  Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeA Short History of Narration A Classical Guide to Narration Educational Renaissance on Charlotte Mason Bonus Podcast Jason and I continued our conversation and talked in-depth about one of his favorite books for teachers, Teach Like A Champion by Doug Lemov. If you want to listen to that conversation, please support us on Patreon. _________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestKaren Glass is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, ages 13 to 27, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason’s methods from beginning to end.  Karen has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years and has written the popular books Consider This: Charlotte Mason and The Classical Tradition and Know and Tell: The Art of Narration. Her newest book, In Vital Harmony, is a seminal work for anyone wanting to discover the beauty of humane education in keeping with the spirit and the tradition of classical education. Online Consulting and Courses with KarenKaren also serves as a consultant for our podcast support team, Beautiful Teaching: Consulting in Classical Education. She leads a book study for our listeners through our online sessions. More is coming soon! Click here to Subscribe to our newsletter so you can receive up-to-date information about more sessions Karen will be leading in the near future.  Show NotesHow we posture ourselves as questioners or learners matters. As an example, Karen points to the serpent in the Garden with Eve and then God's response and what we can learn from these kinds of stories. We also discuss maieutic questioning and the role it plays in coaching students well. There are many problems with reading comprehension questions and how they interfere with natural connections between author and reader. At the heart of questions, we must begin with two questions: "What is a person?" and "What is education?" Some topics in this episode include:Sometimes, the question is more important than the answer. What happens to an answer when the right question does not precede it?What are Socratic questions, and what are common mistakes with Socratic questions?How questions create a mental postureHow does the relationship between question and answer influence the relationship between student and teacher?What is a person, and what is education? What kind of curriculum should I buy for homeschooling? What is a philosophy of education? What is the relationship between caring and asking questions?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodePlato's DialoguesTheaetetusCharlotte Mason Exam QuestionsA Philosophy of Education by Charlotte MasonThe Bible Favorite QuotesMedieval Philosophy: Selections from Modern Library Collection a quote from Hugh of St. Victor's Didascalicon_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestsDr. Dave Rose is a Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1987 from the University of Virginia. His primary areas of research interest are behavioral economics, political economy, and organization theory. He has published scholarly articles in a wide range of areas. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Weldon Spring Foundation, the HFL Foundation, the Earhart Foundation, and the John R. Templeton Foundation. He is currently in his second term on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In 2008 he received the St. Louis Business Journal’s Economic Educator of the year award. His book, The Moral Foundation of Economic Behavior, was selected one of CHOICE’s outstanding titles of 2012. His newest book, Why Culture Matters Most, is also from Oxford University Press. He frequently contributes to policy debates through radio and television interviews as well as in Op-Eds on topics ranging from social security, monetary policy, fiscal policy, judicial philosophy, education reform, healthcare reform, and freedom of speech. Dr. Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed became President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008 after serving as chairman of its board of trustees in the 1990s and both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s. He previously served for 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan (1987-2008). He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its department of economics from 1982 to 1984.In May 2019, he retired to the role of President Emeritus at FEE and assumed the titles of Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty. He holds a B.A. in economics from Grove City College (1975) and an M.A. degree in history from Slippery Rock State University (1978), both in Pennsylvania. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Central Michigan University (public administration, 1993) and Northwood University (laws, 2008).Show NotesDr. Rose and Dr. Reed join Adrienne and Trae to discuss the foundation of a good education in civics and economics: cooperation and trust rooted in moral beliefs and lived out by ethical people in the family and society. We delve into the role of stories in economics class, preserving traditional practices and restoring home economics. For the civics and economics teachers, our guests help us see why preferring old stories to current events is best and why it's not necessarily the classroom teacher’s job to show students how to balance their checking accounts.     Some topics in this episode include:The Relationship between Parenting, Culture, Civics, and Economics Framing Economics as Cooperation Self-governance in Classical Education The Family and Home Economics Moral Believes and Trust in the Family and Society The Role of Stories in Moral Education Humane Economics and Traditional Practices Gratitude and Service to Others Prudence and Democracy The Value of Failure How to Avoid “Bumper Sticker Pedagogy” Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeWhy Culture Matters, David Rose Real Heroes, Lawrence Reed Economics in One Lesson, Henry HazlittBasic Economics, Thomas Sowell Cinderella Man, Ron Howard (Director)The Whistle, Benjamin Franklin Aesop’s Fables, Aesop “The Economics of Splitting Wood By Hand,” John Cuddeback A Conflict of Visions, Thomas SowellDr. Reed’s Website Passion’s Within Reason,  Robert H. Frank The Memory Book, Harry Lorayne and Jerry LucasFavorite Books and Quotes Dr. Rose’s book that he wishes he had read sooner:A Conflict of Visions, Thomas Sowell  Dr. Reed’s favorite quote (corrected): “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.” - David Hayek_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestSean Johnson holds an M.A. in English from the University of Dallas, and he teaches Great Books at Veritas School in Richmond, Virginia. Sean has reviewed movies for FilmFisher.com, and is a frequent contributor to The Circe Institute’s blog and print journal FORMA. As you notice in this interview, Sean loves family, food, and film.  After the show,  consider listening to Sean Johnson’s talk “The Devil Loves a Picky Eater.” Show NotesIn this episode, Sean Johnson and Trae Bailey converse on the proper relationship between family, food, and film in the classical classroom and home. Here Sean suggests movies for the whole family, what to cook with your kids, and how to deal with picky eaters.Some topics in this episode include:Our cultivated culture of pickiness  How the kitchen can inform the classroom The difficult roles of teachers and parents Narration in the home Reviewing Films and Praising Well Graham Greene’s novels and screenplaysLectio Divina   Alcohol and Drinking CultureHow to watch movies with your family The proper place for the television in the home Sean’s film recommendationsBooks &  Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeFORMA Journal The Republic, Socrates  The Supper of The Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, Farrar Capon  The Third Man, Graham Greene Our Man in Havana, Graham, Greene High NoonThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Charlie Chaplin Movies WALL-E  Ratatouille The Incredibles Sean’s Favorite Book & Quote: Beauty for Truth’s Sake, Stratford Caldecott “Is he enough of a pagan to die for the world, and enough of a Christian to die to it?” - G.K.Chesterton, Orthodoxy _______________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

About our GuestDr. Reno Lauro received his PhD from the University of St. Andrews Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts in 2011, where he wrote on J. R. R. Tolkien’s philosophy of Mythopoeia. For the past 10 years, he has worked at the intersection of Humane and Digital learning.After completing his degrees, Theology (MDiv) and History (BA), Reno apprenticed for 18 months on the Palme d’Or winning film The Tree of Life with director Terrence Malick, which transformed his understanding of the Classics, the modern world, and how to communicate the relationship between the two. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level as well as in both Lower and Upper School classrooms of Classical Schools. Most recently, Reno has served as the Assistant Headmaster at St. Peter’s Classical School in Fort Worth, TX and of a Great Hearts Archway School and also worked closely with the CEO of the globally recognized BASIS.ed charter schools to create and pilot seminar-style history courses as alternatives to AP classes.Reno resides in Ft. Worth, Texas with his wife and 4 gloriously active young boys. He is passionate about philosophy, history, and beautiful teaching. He currently works as a Classical Pedagogy and Curriculum Specialist for Coram Deo Academies in DFW. He also is an active consultant for Beautiful Teaching: Consulting in Classical Education Philosophy & Pedagogy.His 2 Bonus Podcast Episodes can be downloaded from our Patreon Page here.Show NotesWe discuss Tolkien’s view of education through the lens of cosmology, anthropology, and story. Reno discusses the theological implications between language and story and how this view ties to the recovery of Christian classical education. Philology is the foundation of the humane letters and there is more to learning than the seeking and the mining of literature in an academic way. This “lifeless” and “dull”  style of the university in Tolkien’s Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford, points to a larger anthropological view of education. This leads us to think of education as a living, breathing, and whole that is multi-faceted and varied. In this world of machines, we need to recover the fullness of human life. Key Text: We discussed at great length from The Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford refers to J.R.R. Tolkien's retirement speech from the University of Oxford, delivered on 5 June 1959. The valedictory speech is included in J.R.R. Tolkien, Scholar and Storyteller: Essays in Memoriam. Another draft was published in The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays (1983).Some topics in this episode include:What was Tolkien's struggle with his peers at The University and how does it show us his philosophy of education?Tolkien as a Dante for the technocratic ageEncountering education as a living, breathing, whole within the cosmosThe medieval view of educationWhat was Tokien’s relationship with the cosmos and trees and how does this influence his view of learning? Books & Titles Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Inklings: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Their Friends by Humphrey Carpenter (chapters 2-3)Secret Fire: The Spiritual Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien by Stratford CaldecottMythopoeia by J.R.R. TolkienThe Discarded Image by C.S. LewisThe valedictory speech is included in J.R.R. Tolkien, Scholar and Storyteller: Essays in Memoriam. Another draft was published in The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays (1983).Reno's quote at end of podcast:Hail Earendel, brightest of angels,Sent to men over middle-earth,And true radiance of the sun,Fine beyond stars, you always illuminate,...Source: Christ I poem from Anglo-Saxon advent liturgy_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★