Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Joseph Magaña, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at EdChoice and Leslie Hiner, Vice President of Legal Policy at EdChoice, leading their Legal Policy and Education Center. They unpack educational savings accounts, and the importance of parental accountability in the school choice movement. They talk about the Friedman Index as a resource that allows families to assess where and how school choice is best accommodated across the United States. They also explore homeschool families’ perspectives and concerns regarding school choice. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Kent Lasnoski, President of San Damiano College for the Trades, a new Catholic trades college in Illinois. Dr. Lasnoski shares his journey from professor and dean at Wyoming Catholic College to founding a Catholic Trade School. They discuss the importance of integrating intellectual and practical skills in education, the impact of AI on the trades, and the significance of fostering a community and entrepreneurial mindset among students. Dr. Lasnoski also describes the unique educational model at San Damiano, which prepares students for a fulfilling life in both mind and the trades.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by John DeJak, Director of Education for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. John talks about working alongside Dale Ahlquist during the founding of the first Chesterton Academy, as well as his transition to Saint Agnes, where he worked in collaboration with Michael Adkins. Together, John and Jeremy explore what Catholic schools can learn from their Protestant classical counterparts. They also discuss the hopeful future of Catholic education and the merits of a deviceless school.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Deacon Harrison Garlick, Chancellor and Legal Counsel for the Diocese of Tulsa, and Host of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast. They discuss his journey from a Protestant upbringing to embracing classical education and its significance in today's society. They explore the challenges of advocating for religious liberty in education, including recently with St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School, for which he testified before the Supreme Court. Finally, Deacon Garlick details his two Great Books-focused podcasts, the role of love in teaching, and the intersection of paganism and Christian education.Ascend: The Great Books Podcast - https://www.thegreatbookspodcast.com/The Ascent: https://www.theascent.io/about

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Sir Nick Gibb, the former UK Minister of State for Schools. They explore the educational reforms he led in Britain, examining how these changes delivered real, measurable change. They also talk about the key role that foundational tools, such as phonics and multiplication tables, played in driving educational transformation

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Laura Berquist, founder of Mother of Divine Grace. Laura shares her journey from receiving a non-orthodox Catholic education to attending Thomas Aquinas College and establishing a Catholic classical homeschooling program. She discusses the importance of a strong Catholic education, the philosophy behind classical education, and the impact that MODG has had on families. She also addresses the challenges of navigating college decisions for homeschoolers and the growing movement of classical education as an alternative to secular schooling. 

In this conversation, Sarah Novlan, Chief Academic Officer at Hill Country Christian School, dives into her journey in classical education and her new role at CLT. They announce the upcoming CLT Enduring Courses as a fresh alternative to the AP curriculum, highlighting issues with AP's content and rigor. Sarah discusses the strong demand from schools for this innovative approach, focusing on humanities to restore educational purpose. The discussion emphasizes assessments designed to foster genuine learning and values over mere GPA competition.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Andrew Smalley, head of Veritas Classical School in St. Augustine, FL and board member of the advisory council for the Institute for Classical Education at Flagler College. They explore the power of making discipleship the primary goal of Christian education and the deep impact that it leaves on students. They discuss Veritas Classical School and the process of building up a school that aims to finish the trivium. 

Dr. Todd Bates, founding president and professor of humanities at Christ College in Satellite Beach, shares insights on classical education and its relevance today. He recounts his journey from a shallow Christian upbringing to a passion for theological study. Todd emphasizes the integration of great books with entrepreneurship, arguing that an entrepreneurial mindset serves a Christian vocation. He advocates for small class sizes and deep faculty-student relationships, aiming to foster meaningful work in a modern educational landscape.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Jennifer Berkshire, journalist and host of the education policy podcast Have You Heard? She discusses her experience bringing liberal arts education into prisons with the Boston College Prison Education Program. They explore how reading the Great Books allows inmates to grapple with sincere questions about guilt, innocence, and responsibility, and how serving a life sentence can shape a student’s educational telos.