Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Calvin Troup, president of Geneva College. Dr. Troup shares about his undergrad experience at Geneva from 1979-1983, discussing the importance of Geneva's integrated humanities program and Christian core curriculum. Dr. Troup emphasizes that this kind of education is essential to developing practical wisdom and enabling students to interact with those around them as human beings made in the image of God. Dr. Troup also discusses his scholarly interest in St. Augustine, sharing how Augustine's City of God provides a wonderful explanation of the hope of the Gospel in a dying world.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by John Sablan, co-founder and president of World Ablaze. John shares his story of transformation after undergoing abuse at the hands of a family member and his alcoholic father. Returning to the Catholic church in his adulthood, John experienced a "prodigal son" moment that broke the bonds of trauma and abuse in his life. John describes how his children ended up at Franciscan University after being accepted to UC Davis and Berkeley and how World Ablaze helps bring families from hurting, to healing, to holiness.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Phil Cook, Executive Director of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP). Phil discusses his time serving as Vice President of Enrollment at Lee University, where he and the college administration sought to foster Christ-centered and academically excellent education. Phil shares the importance of nurturing faith in higher education and why parents should make the investment in private Christian colleges for their children. He discusses NACCAP's work to advance enrollment in Christian higher education through Christian University & College Fairs.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Andrew Zwerneman, founder and president of Cana Academy. Cana Academy is a nonprofit providing classical education resources and seminars for teachers. Andrew discusses the importance of how we teach history, highlighting the dangers of a fragmentary view which redefines the past by specific egregious failures. Andrew points out the corroded connections in modern academia between philosophy and revelation, faith and reason, and tradition and our present experience. He shares how Christianity and Western culture have fostered an extremely diverse American culture, and emphasizes the importance of focusing our history on enduring loves. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Michael Millerman, a scholar of political philosophy and author of two books: Inside "Putin's Brain" and Beginning with Heidegger.  Michael shares how he became interested in the "deep inner life of man" from a young age. Introduced to Straussian pedagogy through a professor, Michael paired his interest in mysticism with philosophy and delved into research on the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin. This research later led him to get blacklisted from a career in higher academia, but inspired Michael to create The Millerman School, where Michael teaches online courses on Plato, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and more. Michael shares the importance of a genuine study of controversial thoughts and shares why a universal yearning for the Great Books is inevitable.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Greg Wilbur, president and founder of New College Franklin, and Carolyn Weber, professor at New College Franklin and author of Surprised by Oxford.  Greg shares how he began a career in higher education after realizing the brokenness of the status quo, with colleges that focused more on job training than educating the whole person. Greg and Carolyn discuss why New College Franklin only offers one major in the Liberal Arts and why this kind of education bears fruit in students regardless of their vocation. The two discuss the importance of music in education, as well as maintaining a sense of wonder.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Doug Wilson, founder of the Logos School. Doug shares how he first learned about classical education during his service in the Navy after reading Dorothy Sayers' The Lost Tools of Learning. Doug describes the vision and mission for the Logos School as "not just another prep school" but one embedded in contextualized history of America and the church. Doug discusses the impact of secular curricula in modern schools, the importance of open conversations with people of differing beliefs, and some of the controversies that have surrounded him.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Karen Elliott, Executive Director of the Rafiki Foundation. Karen shares how she went from working as a commercial banker to serving in Africa and describes how the foundation is supporting Africans spiritually and materially. Now in 10 African countries, the Rafiki Foundation partners with 23 African church denominations and 20,000 schools to provide care and a classical Christian education to children in need. Karen emphasizes that a classical education is for everyone, but must speak to a people's particular culture and history and draw on whatever is true, good and beautiful around the world.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Jennifer Pepito, a homeschool parent, founder of The Peaceful Press, and author of Mothering By the Book. Jennifer shares how she began her homeschooling journey while seeking to provide the best education possible for her children, including one daughter with special needs. Concerned that today's kids are over-schooled and over-scheduled, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of developing fine motor skills in early education as well as cultivating joy and wonder. She shares how she has established meaningful practices in her family, like morning time, physical work, and reading aloud, to foster a love for learning and for God.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by his daughter, Grace Tate, and Tamara Long, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Abilene Christian University. Tamara and Grace discuss Abilene's summer program in England, sharing their perspectives on the trip and what they learned about English history and culture. Tamara emphasizes that Abilene Christian University's goal is to maintain a strong Christian identity that pervades and fuels its rigorous academics.