Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Soren and Arooba are joined by Mr. Jason Caros, the headmaster at Founders Classical Academy in Lewisville, Texas, and Shrita Bhat, a high school junior at Founders. Mr. Caros shares how his interest in classical education began and what led him to become a headmaster at Founders Classical Academy. He explains that a public charter school like Founders delivers a classical education by rooting itself in the true, the good, and the beautiful. Shrita Baht discusses a speech she wrote on tyranny, government, and the Constitution. She explains how the founding fathers envisioned America and what we can do to unify the nation.You can read Shrita's full speech on our blog: https://t.co/ouT8Xm0E8k

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Michael P. Krom and Dr. Jason Jividen of Saint Vincent College. Dr. Jividen is Associate Professor of Politics in the McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government while Dr. Krom serves as chair of the Philosophy department, director of Benedictine Leadership Studies, and director of the Faith and Reason Summer Program. They discuss Saint Vincent College's curriculum and what makes the college unique, such as the presence of monks on campus.  They also discuss the difference between online and on-campus learning, and how studying in person allows students to form cultural relationships. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Tamara Long, the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Abilene Christian University. Tamara discusses a new opportunity for high school juniors to visit Oxford as part of Abilene Christian University's study abroad program. She explains the importance of studying abroad for students, how it can benefit them in finding their calling, and the planning that went into making this program possible. She also explains how Abilene's study abroad program differs from those of other colleges and universities by maintaining its commitment to the university's Christian mission. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Brian A. Williams, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Dean of the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University. Dr. Williams discusses his love for books and mythology as a child. He shares his academic journey: initially wanting to become a lawyer, and even briefly opening his own cafe, but then uncovering his interest in the classical tradition and attending Oxford University. He shares how teaching at Oxford transformed his mindset about grading and assessments, and helped him realize that teaching without grading felt more like coaching. Dr. Williams explains in detail how placing more importance on grades can take away a child's love for learning. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Bethany Mandel, a conservative American columnist and political and cultural commentator. Bethany shares the extreme hardships she faced growing up. Losing her mom at the age of 16, and then her dad to suicide, Bethany often battled with poverty. She explains that what she had to overcome as a young university student shaped much of her conservative views as an adult. She discusses the importance of her current project, Heroes of Liberty, a new children’s biographical book series on great Americans throughout history, and Facebook's attempt to shut down her ad account due to "disruptive content." 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Christy Shipe,  Chairman of the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) Board. Christy shares her own homeschool story - which began in 1982. Her father was the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association. When Christy was in her junior year of college, she was hired by HSLDA to start a debate league for homeschool students. She explains that students who are educated classically have a natural understanding of logic, analysis, and communication which lays the groundwork for knowing how to debate well. She states the mission of the NCFCA is to challenge and equip Christian students to communicate truth with integrity and grace.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Nicole Solas, a stay-at-home mom who was sued by the teacher's union for requesting public school curriculum records.  Nicole highlights that schools are incorporating gender theory, and other racially-charged topics into the curriculum while simultaneously removing the input of parents on what their children are being taught. She discusses the importance of schools having full transparency in terms of the school's curriculum so that parents can make decisions accordingly. She also explains that parents should be alarmed that they are not allowed to inquire about what their kids are being taught and that they should be taking initiative without being afraid to be "inconvenienced."

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Arooba Asim, the co-host and podcast producer of Anchored. She is also the CLT social media manager. Arooba discusses her upbringing in rural Pakistan, her early education, and the foundation her family created for her rooted in traditional and religious values that are lost in the modern world. She explains the stark contrast in the lifestyle she experienced when her family moved to Canada, and how growing up in two very different cultures gave her a better understanding of other ways of living. She shares her views on the toxicity of social media, and modern values that have removed people from being able to appreciate the true, the good, and the beautiful.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Dr. O. Alan Noble, associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University. Dr. Noble discusses his interest in studying culture as a young student, but how challenging it was to learn to do it in a way that honors God. He talks about the existential dread that many students face in response to cultural pressure to perform in a specific way. Dr. Noble also shares the importance of developing a Godly perspective, knowing our limits, and recognizing that some things aren't good for our souls. He explains that the purpose of higher education is to make students ask the question of, "what is the Good life?"

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Deanna Slamans, an educator and author. Deanna discusses her early childhood of living in poverty, the hardships she faced and overcame in relation to her family's circumstances, the trauma she suffered, and how receiving an education turned her life around. She shares the opportunities attending a school provided for her, and how it helped her strive for more than she had been given. She talks about her book Faith's Pursuit: Understanding God's Faithfulness in Suffering,  and how her relationship with God changed as she overcame these hardships, and how it helped her become a better human being, and a better mother.