Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

In this episode, Jeremy and Arooba sit down with Matt Scogin, the 14th president of Hope College. President Scogin grew up in a family with a deep appreciation for higher education, and despite spending much of his early years in government and business, President Scogin eventually felt called by God to apply for presidency at Hope College. He discusses his very ambitious plan to make Hope College tuition-free in order to move away from transactional relationships with students. President Scogin explains that the fear of graduating with debt skews students' views of education, causing them to see university as an investment rather than a place to learn and grow. Host: Jeremy Tate, Arooba AsimGuest: Matt Scogin

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former inner-city public school teacher. Robert begins by discussing his blue-collar upbringing, and his relatively normal experience attending public school as a child. He explains that his relatable experience makes him the perfect candidate to connect with and aid students. Mr. Pondiscio received his Bachelor in English from State University of New York at the age of 40 and became a teacher at one of the lowest performing schools in the South Bronx. It was then that he became skeptical of school curriculum and the training teachers were receiving. Mr. Pondiscio explains that he became a school choice advocate because he saw no other way to give students the education they deserved. He emphasizes the role school choice plays in leveling the playing field for low-income families. Host: Jeremy Tate, Arooba AsimGuest: Robert Pondiscio 

In this episode of Anchored, Jay P. Greene, a senior research fellow for education policy at The Heritage Foundation, sits down with Jeremy to discuss his current areas of research in school choice and the effect of schools on non-cognitive and civic values. Greene highlights the decline in history majors due to a shift to vocational institutes and students' desires to get job-specific degrees in modern education. He also points out the shortcomings of the Department of Education, and why the federal government should not handle education policy. Greene explains that the increase in support for school choice is backed by parents who believe that the values taught in schools matter, and that education is an extension of child-rearing.

On the latest episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Arooba are joined by Dr. Aaron Howard, the CEO at As One Christian Diversity, an organization devoted to helping Christian schools, universities and organizations hire and retain a diverse staff rooted in biblical integrity. Dr. Howard talks about his time studying at Vanderbilt University, and his natural progression to studying ethics and society due to his love of Jesus and the church. He emphasizes his passion for diversity and inclusion using scriptural principles, with his main influence being Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Howard also discusses how applying scriptural principles in our day-to-day lives can bridge the gap between different races and ethnicities.  Host: Jeremy Tate, Arooba AsimGuest: Dr. Aaron Howard

Note: This is part 2 of our conversation with Michael Ortner. In the second part of our conversation, Michael Ortner discusses what initially attracted him to the CLT mission and the role standardized testing plays in shaping school curricula. He also discusses his other initiatives such as B. school, a Bootcamp specially designed to help humanities graduates enter the business world. Michael explains that the business world is in dire need of philosophy students and that B. school helps bridge the gap between them. He also discusses his work with Run with Saints - a project that helps practicing Catholics, especially students, connect with thriving Catholic communities and institutions. 

Note: This is part 1 of our conversation with Michael Ortner. Acclaimed entrepreneur, CEO, investor, and philanthropist Michael Ortner joins Jeremy and Arooba to discuss his journey with Capterra, one of the largest business-to-business websites of all time and winner of numerous awards. He discusses how reading classic books helped him regain his sense of wonder, which led him to pursue a degree in philosophy at the University of London, and how homeschooling his children with the classics revolutionized the way they learned. Michael also discusses his current role on the board of Cana Academy, an educational non-profit that trains teachers to run Socratic seminars.Host: Jeremy Tate,  Arooba AsimGuest: Michael Ortner 

On the latest episode of Anchored, our CEO Jeremy Tate and special Co-Host Arooba Asim sit down with Linsey Knerl, a freelance digital marketer, a homeschooling mom of six, and author of the book “Homeschooling Hacks, How to Give Your Kids a Great Education Without Losing Your Job  (or Your Mind)”. Throughout the episode, Linsey shares the tips and tricks she learned throughout her homeschooling experience. She explains that what attracted her to homeschooling was not the bureaucracy or the politics, but the desire to help her children reach their full potential by maximizing their talents. She also discusses the role classical education played in reaching that potential. Linsey ends off by discussing the various resources the internet can provide homeschooling families to further aid them on their journey.Host: Jeremy TateCo-Host: Arooba AsimGuest: Linsey Knerl

On the latest episode of Anchored, Jeremy Tate is joined by Abby Roth - also known as Classically Abby, a social media influencer and YouTuber. Abby starts off by sharing her experience attending Jewish day school as a child, and later studying Oprah at the University of Southern California. Abby and Jeremy discuss the state of public schooling, and whether homeschooling is a better option for educating children. Abby talks about the different options that are available for parents who cannot afford to homeschool their children or send them to private schools. Host: Jeremy Tate @JeremyTate41Guest: Abby Roth @ClassicallyAbby 

On the latest episode of Anchored, our CEO Jeremy Tate is joined by Paul E. Peterson, the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government and Director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. They discuss the importance of school choice and the gaps in public education that prevent teachers from exploring a student’s full potential. Dr. Peterson is also the author of Saving Schools: From Horace Mann to Virtual Learning. The book traces the story of the rise, decline, and potential resurrection of American public schools. Dr. Peterson highlights countries where school choice is implemented, such as the Netherlands, and how it benefits people of different religions and cultures. 

On the latest episode of Anchored, Our CEO Jeremy Tate sits down with Dr. Jose Torralba and student Alec Ebersole, both from the University of Navarra, which is located in Pamplona, Spain. The founder of Navarra described his ideals for the university as “[wanting] learned men to be formed here, with a Christian understanding of life; we want this environment, suitable for quiet reflection, to cultivate science rooted in its most solid principles so that this light might shine over all the roads of knowledge.” Jeremy discusses the great books program with Dr. Torralba, which focuses on a return to the western Liberal Arts tradition in education. The University of Navarra is currently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in five areas of the international QS rankingHost: Jeremy Tate @JeremyTate41Guest: Dr. Jose Torralba and Alec Ebersole