Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Tom McFadden, Vice President of Enrollment at Christendom College. The two discuss Tom’s journey in finding Christendom College as an international student. They talk about Christendom’s new president, Dr. George Harne, and the difficulty of adhering to a school’s mission amid a culture of compromise. The two also dive into Tom’s unique situation as a father of eleven homeschooled kids who serves on a public school board and his reason for why public schools shouldn’t be abandoned altogether.  

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Anya Leonard, founder and director of Classical Wisdom, a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds. Anya discusses her experience as a well-traveled individual and unpacks her experience in her current home, Buenos Aires, as a culture steeped in culture. She discusses international interest in the classics but highlights differences in the American renewal movement. The two also talk about the founding and purpose of Classical Wisdom and how to cultivate a love of learning in children.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Nicole Dunteman, program director of Hope Forward at Hope College. The two discuss the difficulty of capturing virtue and character development in the form of quantitative data. They unpack the Hope Forward program, a cohort of students whose tuition is fully funded by Hope College alumni, and the importance of cyclical generosity and gratitude. They also talk about the program as a solution to the problem of accessibility in classical education and its applicability to a range of other models and aims. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Travis Dickinson, professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University and author of several books including most recently Wandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions. They discuss philosophy as not only a useful subject but an unavoidable one in respect to philosophical commitments and the consequences of ideas. They explore the best ways to cultivate curiosity and sharpen a student’s critical thinking skills. Dickinson also presents his apology for the philosophy major.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by two Ashland University faculty members—Keith Ramsdell, the vice president for enrollment and Rich Policz, the associate director of student programs at the Ashbrook Center. They discuss the new Ashbrook Center program for homeschooled students, serving their needs with free tutoring, workshops, and dual enrollment support. They also talk about the homeschooled students from a professor’s point of view as a more conversational, more patriotic kind of student. They conclude by exploring the university’s new classical learning minor and the future of the Ashbrook Center. 

On Office Hours with Jeremy Tate, Jeremy and Soren dive into the most recent, need-to-know news surrounding the education renewal movement. Tune in to hear about the correlation between classical higher education institutions and their comparative lack of riots. Soren and Jeremy also discuss the richness and success of classical school STEM programs and why liberal arts students do not need to fear the future of AI. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Michael Wildschut, Director of The January Series put on annually by Calvin University. The two discuss the value of both a gap year and a geography major, despite our modern culture’s tendency to disparage both. They also dive into The January Series itself along with the breadth of subjects and questions the lectures and lecturers examine. They explore the possibility of cultivating curiosity and its role in preserving a unified culture where learning is valued.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Davies Owens, host of the BaseCamp Live podcast. They discuss classical education’s relevant work for modern students and their families. They dive into the new kinds of kids entering schools and how techno-influences have undermined attention spans. Davies also talks about the story behind the name, mission, and work of BaseCamp Live. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Bill and Alexis Haughey, the founders of the Catholic Institute of Technology, an American, Catholic technical university opening in Italy this fall. The three discuss the university’s inception, courses, purpose, and future goals. They also unpack the importance of training up religious students to participate in the work the Vatican is already doing in confronting a technology-driven future.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Timothy Dernlan, Vice President of Advancements and Consulting for the Association of Classical Christian Schools. The two talk about Timothy’s transition from coaching college sports to the world of classical, Christian education. They also discuss his journey from his first discovery of ACCS to his role now as Vice President. They conclude by exploring Timothy’s vision for a supportive classical school ecosystem and the encouraging trends in the classical school movement.