Classical Commons

Forming the imagination in a fragmented age | Shannon Valenzuela

Medievalist, educator, screenwriter, and media producer Shannon Valenzuela joins us from the University of Dallas to explore classical education as a living tradition—one that forms the whole person and continues to generate new stories, new art, and new cultural work. Drawing on her experience in K–12 classrooms, higher education, and film and television, Valenzuela reflects on formation, virtue, and the enduring power of imagination. In this episode, we discuss:  📖 Why the renewal of classical education signals a recovery of formation over utility  📖 The medieval university as a model for forward-facing, living tradition  📖 Balancing teaching, writing, media production, and family life through rhythm and habit LINKS: ➡️ St. Ambrose Center (University of Dallas): https://udallas.edu/faith-service/centers-institutes/saint-ambrose-center/index.php ➡️ The Quest (EWTN): https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Series/ondemand/video/en/the-quest [https://www.ewtn.com] Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist? Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement. Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org. ... For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

The poet's moral journey | Jane Clark Scharl

Poet, playwright, and critic Jane Scharl joins us to explore her debut poetry collection Ponds, the moral labor of finding a poetic voice, and the enduring power of language in an age increasingly dominated by abstraction. In a wide-ranging conversation, she reflects on the poet’s vocation, the dangers of reducing words to mere “tokens,” and why great poetry always returns us to reality. In this episode, we discuss: 📖 How a spontaneous dramatic monologue in college revealed Scharl’s poetic vocation 📖 Why poets and philosophers diverge—and what poets understand about language that analytic philosophy often misses 📖 The influences that formed her imagination—from David Jones to classical Chinese poetry 📖 What it means to “find a voice,” and why the journey is as moral as it is artistic 📖 The state of contemporary poetry—and where readers can go to find work that still matters LINKS: ➡️ Ponds by Jane Scharl (Wipf & Stock): https://wipfandstock.com/979838521064... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0lDNFVfVkoyOVFSU25KeVZLWGp3RmdVWW9DZ3xBQ3Jtc0trSlVVSkhkY3hEbUFxa1pPamQzSG5zbXJ1QjNtLUpQN09JZHJkd1p6QkQtejR0N05OcmctSF8teld2SU5pQnlFU1RhZmMyRDV0NnpxcmNqaU1MUkF3NEdyMDRyZTVuVXRhQmhjZzdCdEZZLWtueWRpaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwipfandstock.com%2F9798385210640%2Fponds%2F&v=jeLnUI4tyi0] ➡️ Jane's writing: https://https://jcscharl.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTBFMWdFRGFhZ2YtamlraUNkMExwcWtaQ2RVQXxBQ3Jtc0ttVkxUc1dPVFZ4UG0tekJabDh0TUtmVVMySGNTd3d3QUJiUE1DUXZhSUhwRjV4UTYxQWx2T1p3bldHUE9fVlhGUVR2V2tiMExEa1RYcjZKbGpLOE1YcWFZbTBkS2lmWHBCdkNoZk15ODRReGYwbzlkMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjcscharl.com%2F&v=jeLnUI4tyi0] Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist? Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement. Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org. ... For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

A Catholic stronghold in higher ed | Thomas Varacalli and Christine Boor (Belmont Abbey College)

Dr. Thomas Varacalli, Dean of the Honors College, and Dr. Christine Boor, Chair of Classical Liberal Education, join us from Belmont Abbey College to discuss the revival of Catholic liberal education, the distinctives of the Abbey’s Honors College, and the formative power of friendship, contemplation, and intellectual tradition. Together they explore what it means to build a genuinely Christian college in an age of fragmentation. In this episode, we discuss: 📖 The founding vision of the Belmont Abbey Honors College and how it integrates faith and reason 📖 How the Great Books shape students to become seekers rather than specialists 📖 Why friendship is at the heart of the Abbey’s intellectual life LINKS: ➡️ Belmont Abbey Honors College: https://www.bac.edu/academics/honors-... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDBqMktXa3ZKQ1NHcm9FTE9ZSnlHZl8wRWNRZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsd00yM0tjVHh2Z0YtT0xnaGNvYVFqY0kwcU04T3hYZG03WGxHT3p6YkVOcjFWeVNKVnAwcVcwSVlWRUpRbnVjT2RCbVFFT3Fhb20teHRrTFhSb01rZ0ZyUS1rV0J4OU1RWU5nejhvdjdrOVdoWUp1cw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bac.edu%2Facademics%2Fhonors-college%2F&v=dZ7xsf20kOY] Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist? Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement. Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org. ... For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Liberty Common's Festival of Ideas | Meg Salazar and Robert Robinson

Art Department Chair Meg Salazar and High School Principal Robert Robinson of Liberty Common Charter School join us to tell the story of Festival of Ideas—a decade-long experiment in classical community-building that has become one of the most vibrant regional events in the movement. They share how the festival began, how it has evolved, and why cultivating a culture of leisure, wonder, and cross-disciplinary learning matters for classical schools today. In this episode, we discuss: 📖 How the Festival grew from in-house PD to a regional classical symposium 📖 Why public, content-rich events strengthen school culture and parent confidence 📖 How Liberty’s festival is inspiring other classical schools across the country LINKS: ➡️ Liberty Common Charter School: https://libertycommon.org [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmU4eTRfLVlQOEoydVJXNUk4bGxpOHAxU1hoZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNnU1NDd3Z3g0UTlJN3Z4MHNENzdLd0FEdlUteXhaRHo4eXBraldWbEd3QTM2aDVsWDY4YWtHRjdaaXlXNTZqVUlRVGFjMXhHUG9lRFVLTnlxQktRVXNJMjJtMWhLUGFzNUlXaG1vLUZJLWZNREdyNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Flibertycommon.org%2F&v=z0fFwNXFG4w] ➡️ Festival of Ideas: https://libertycommon.org/festivalofi... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm1vWlBndmhCSnQwU2hjM0hqaWs3SUQyS3ZoQXxBQ3Jtc0tsLUdGcW5GVXVydnpxUllTbWpKOTJEeXRtT2U2Y3JvMEUyZ3REcW1sb3pSWnc1dE05RGVsNkFyMi1IaVE1bm5Qbk5JbEROQUZ0cTdkLVFoZUhoZTFocVREYkVPUEtXRWkxZENIV2ZqaHBsSDc5c3h1aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flibertycommon.org%2Ffestivalofideas&v=z0fFwNXFG4w] Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist? Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement. Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org. ... For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Do the Ivies teach Shakespeare? | Adam Kissel, Rachel Alexander Cambre, and Madison Merino Doan

Policy analysts and educators Adam Kissel, Rachel Alexander Cambre, and Madison Merino Doan join us to discuss their new book Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation (Encounter Books)—an eye-opening look at the decline of liberal education in America’s most prestigious universities. Together they uncover what’s gone wrong with general education, what’s missing from modern curricula, and why the recovery of real learning still matters. In this episode, we discuss: 📖 How the Ivy League abandoned the core curriculum and the study of Western civilization 📖 What their research uncovered in hundreds of “slacker courses” at top universities 📖 The historical shift from classical to elective education—and how Emerson and Eliot helped pave the way 📖 Why Columbia remains the lone Ivy preserving a true core curriculum 📖 How reform might begin—through trustees, states, and new classical colleges LINKS: ➡️ Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation (Encounter Books): https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0dzVC1ZaHVMcmp0eUNOeWVSN2JfMnZKMTlkZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsOGd4eEJmZnViWERwVzF3NFc5SFV2MHFRV0x0U2lmNHZnYTVRTVVEWGRRYmc4MjFjUHNvODNzLWtVNld4enRfcC1QVzlCM2xWVF9mVkhSMjNjNEFjZzZBRDdpWllxcWdlc2lZRzNLMkpkeFVJbTBuSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.encounterbooks.com%2Fbooks%2Fslacking&v=zNoBX3RFwAY] ➡️ National Association of Scholars: https://www.nas.org [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNHTnpkTWRCTnpkUnNLYk1Bb3czZ3Q0c0gyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuVnZGTHJodE95dGFyQWpQc2hDWFFGZm04Qmo2RkN3NVhtZzlKVERzZXkybWhLaEJ6QkhpSGlnYnMzU2tuU1IxYlFQcldhT2JNTWR2M0ZQRnBkcjAxeEJuOVEzV1lvZk9seVVIdDF6aVkzN2Z5dGFWUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nas.org%2F&v=zNoBX3RFwAY] Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist? Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement. Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org. ... For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior