The Liberty Show

Why Music Is Essential to a Child’s Education | Bryan Franklin

What is education really for? In this episode of The Liberty Show, Matthew Kirby sits down with Bryan Franklin, Director of Fine Arts at Atlanta Classical Academy, to explore the role of music in shaping not just the mind, but the heart. Together, they walk through what classical education looks like in practice, including a live classroom-style lesson using Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” Along the way, they discuss how music connects to history, imagination, and the formation of young people. This conversation goes beyond curriculum. It gets at something deeper. * Why music and the arts are essential, not optional * How great teachers bring subjects to life * What it means to cultivate wonder in students * Why education should aim at forming meaningful lives If you care about education, culture, or the development of the next generation, this episode is for you. About the Guest Bryan Franklin serves as Director of Fine Arts at Atlanta Classical Academy, where he has taught since the school’s founding. He leads a flourishing arts program and is known for bringing music, history, and imagination together in the classroom. Learn more about Liberty Classical Schools: https://libertyclassicalschools.org 👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing for more episodes of The Liberty Show.

Why We Should Still Be Proud of America | The Folsoms on History, Liberty & Education

Why should we be proud of America? In this episode of The Liberty Show, Matthew Kirby sits down with Burt and Anita Folsom to explore the historical foundations of American liberty and why those ideas still matter today. Drawing from their work on American history and their recent pamphlet Three Reasons to Be Proud of America, the Folsoms walk through the principles that shaped the nation and the stories that are often overlooked in modern education. They discuss how the Declaration of Independence established enduring truths about human equality and rights, why entrepreneurship played a critical role in shaping the modern world, and how America’s actions on the global stage have impacted history in profound ways.   In this conversation: • The foundational truths of the Declaration of Independence • Why rights come from God, not government • How America helped lead the abolition of slavery • The role of entrepreneurship in shaping the modern world • Why the U.S. rebuilt Europe after World War II • How history should be taught to the next generation This episode is a reminder that understanding history is essential to forming thoughtful, informed citizens. About The Liberty Show The Liberty Show features conversations with educators, historians, and leaders shaping the future of classical education and culture. Produced by Liberty Classical Schools, where students are formed through an education rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. Learn more: https://libertyclassicalschools.org Subscribe for more conversations on education, history, and formation. #TheLibertyShow #LibertyClassical #ClassicalEducation #AmericanHistory #EducationMatters

What Great Teachers Actually Do | David Han on Character and Formation

What makes a great teacher? In this episode of The Liberty Show, Matthew Kirby sits down with David Hahn, lower school principal at Atlanta Classical Academy, to explore the deeper purpose of education and what it looks like to form students in both mind and character. David shares his journey from aerospace engineering to education and reflects on the mission that drives classical schools: cultivating students who are not only knowledgeable, but virtuous. In this conversation, they discuss: • Why education must go beyond academics to shape character • What it means to form students in both heart and mind • How great teachers bring learning to life • The role of community in sustaining educators • Why coaching, feedback, and growth are essential to school culture • How parents and schools can partner in raising children This episode offers a practical and inspiring look at what it takes to build schools that form students for lives of purpose, responsibility, and leadership. Learn more about Liberty Classical Schools: https://libertyclassicalschools.org Subscribe for more conversations on classical education, formation, and culture. #TheLibertyShow #LibertyClassical #ClassicalEducation #CharacterFormation #EducationMatters

Why Modern Education Feels Empty And How We Fix It | Dr. Margarita Mooney Clayton

What is education actually for? In this episode of The Liberty Show, we sit down with sociologist and author Dr. Margarita Mooney Clayton to explore the deeper purpose of education and why modern systems may be missing something essential. Much of education today is focused on credentials, outcomes, and career preparation. But historically, education aimed at something much greater: the formation of the whole person. The cultivation of wisdom. A love for truth, beauty, and goodness. Dr. Mooney Clayton helps us rediscover why these ideas still matter and why recovering them could transform the way we educate the next generation. In this conversation, we explore: • Why modern education has drifted away from its deeper purpose • The role of beauty in shaping the human soul • How the liberal arts form wisdom, not just job skills • Why great teachers must love the subjects they teach • The importance of moral formation alongside intellectual development • How parents and educators can restore meaning to education Dr. Mooney Clayton shares insights from her work as a sociologist and educator, offering a vision of education that develops both the mind and the character of students. About Dr. Margarita Mooney Clayton Dr. Margarita Mooney Clayton is a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and the founder of the Scala Foundation, an organization dedicated to restoring meaning and purpose in American culture through the integration of education, art, and religion. Learn more about her work: https://margaritamooneyclayton.com https://thescalafoundation.org About The Liberty Show The Liberty Show features conversations with educators, scholars, and leaders exploring the ideas shaping the future of education and culture. Produced by Liberty Classical Schools, where students are formed through an education rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. Learn more about Liberty Classical Schools: https://libertyclassicalschools.org

FORMING CITIZENS | Robert Kelly on Character, Citizenship & Classical Education

What is education ultimately for? In this episode of The Liberty Show, Matthew Kirby sits down with Robert Kelly to discuss the deeper purpose of classical education. Beyond credentials and career preparation, Liberty Classical Schools exists to form students in moral and intellectual character — preparing them not only for success, but for responsible citizenship. Together, they explore: Why character must precede systems How classical education cultivates thoughtful, virtuous citizens The relationship between formation and freedom What it takes to build schools that strengthen communities This is a conversation about education as formation and about the kind of people our schools are shaping. Learn more about Liberty Classical Schools: 🔗 libertyclassicalschools.org Subscribe for more conversations on classical education, civic formation, and meaningful leadership. #TheLibertyShow #LibertyClassical #ClassicalEducation #Citizenship #CharacterFormation