An Examined Education

In this episode of An Examined Education, we sit down with Cambridge School Latin teacher Donny McNair to explore the Roman historian Livy and the power of narrative in shaping a civilization's moral compass. Livy lived through the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of Augustus' empire—a time of immense political and cultural upheaval. Through vivid, almost novelistic storytelling, Livy didn't just recount events; he sought to guide readers toward virtue and civic responsibility. Join us as we discuss how Livy's philosophical lens, his critique of Rome's moral decline, and his belief in the transformative power of history remain strikingly relevant today.

What holds a society together when factions clash and partisanship rises? In this episode, Kelsey Bonilla, history and government teacher at The Cambridge School, unpacks the deep connections between law, government, and a flourishing civil society. We trace the founders' inspirations from Rome to the Enlightenment, explore the responsibilities of citizenship, and ask how education can ground us in civic virtue today. Whether you're a student of history or just wondering what keeps the American experiment alive, this conversation offers timeless insights and practical hope.

In this episode of An Examined Education, host Jeff Yoder sits down with Patrick Claytor, a Bible and Latin teacher at The Cambridge School, to explore how faith and community shape personal identity and societal flourishing. Drawing on the metaphor of a "cut flower society," they examine how secularization uproots individuals from traditional sources of meaning while people continue to seek community in alternative spaces. Claytor shares insights from his theological background on why church community offers unique benefits different from secular affiliations, discussing how Christian identity is grounded in Christ's work rather than personal achievement. The conversation explores the implications of rootedness versus individualism in modern society, offering practical guidance for families seeking to nurture faith and community connections in their children. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone interested in the intersection of faith, community, and identity formation, this episode provides valuable perspective on finding stability and meaning in an increasingly disconnected world. Join us as we continue to examine education that prepares students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely.

Longing to Know - Esther MeekNicomachean Ethics Book VI - AristotleAn Essay in Regulative Epistemology by Robert C. Roberts and Jay Wood

An Examined Education, presented by The Cambridge School in San Diego, explores the foundations of classical Christian education and its vital role in today's world. In this episode, Jean Kim, founder and head of school, delves into Os Guinness's compelling metaphor of "cut flower civilization" - the idea that Western society continues to display the beauty of Christian and classical influences while being increasingly disconnected from these vital roots. Drawing from her decades of experience in education, Kim examines how classical Christian education can help reconnect students to enduring truths and traditions in an age of rootlessness. She discusses the challenges facing today's youth, from moral relativism to a crisis of meaning, and presents a hopeful vision for renewal through education that emphasizes wisdom, virtue, and purpose beyond individual achievement. This thought-provoking conversation explores how schools can foster genuine human flourishing by connecting students to transcendent truth, cultivating meaningful relationships, and grounding them in the rich soil of classical and Christian traditions. Whether you're an educator, parent, or simply interested in cultural renewal, this episode offers valuable insights into creating an education that prepares students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

On Reading Well - Karen Swallow Prior

In this podcast episode, DJ discusses the evolution of senior theses in classical schools. They explore how the tradition fosters critical thinking and reflection on enduring ideas, while adapting to technological advancements. DJ emphasizes the shift towards collaborative discussions and open-mindedness among students, aiming to cultivate wisdom and deeper engagement with the world.

Doug is welcomed back on the podcast to give us a reading guide on America's epic: Moby Dick. If you have yet to listen to the full episode on Moby Dick, make sure to go back and give it a listen!

Join us as we welcome back Doug Jones, our Literature Chair, to delve into the depths of "Moby Dick" on this week's episode. This enlightening discussion explores Melville's creative writing prowess and the profound questions he poses to readers. Embark on an educational journey at sea, as we uncover the masterpiece that has shaped the minds of readers and influenced renowned authors. Come explore these intriguing waters with us as we navigate "Moby Dick."

Amanda Sansonetti gives us some interesting insight into Gilgamesh as well as a few helpful tips for first-time readers.

Amanda Sansonetti, our 7th grade literature teacher joins us to discuss the significance of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" as the oldest surviving literary work and how it raises questions about the meaning of life and human existence, making it relevant to contemporary readers despite its ancient origins.

A host of Alumni join us to answer questions from the community about their education at Cambridge, their college experience, and more. Our next episode will continue with our Great Books and Big Ideas theme as we talk to Amanda Sansonetti, our 7th grade literature teacher, about the humanity of Gilgamesh. Stay tuned!

In our concluding discussion on Modern American Literature, DJ returns one more time to explore the final reading guide, spotlighting Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This guide serves as a valuable companion to maximize your understanding of the text. If you haven't listened to the previous episode covering Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature, be sure to start there. We trust you'll find this reading guide enriching, and we'll see you next time!

DJ returns with a new reading guide, this one focused on "The Sound and The Fury." It serves as an excellent resource to delve into before immersing yourself in this great book. If you haven't already, make sure to check out the episode on Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature before proceeding. Keep an eye out for DJ's final reading guide on "Brave New World," bringing the series on modern American literature to a close.

DJ gives us a few things to think about as we make our way through Great Gatsby. If you have yet to listen to DJ's conversation on Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature, be sure to go back and listen there first.

DJ Goodwiler joins us on this week's episode to help us define what makes a great book and how some modern American literature can help us make sense of the world around us and our own interactions within it.

Doug Jones joins us to delve into the transformative influence of great books on shaping our identity through the way we teach and learn.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Melissa Gingrich as our guest, who will shed light on the fascinating field of neuroscience and its relevance to the developing brain. By delving into this subject, we aim to empower parents and teachers to forge stronger connections with students during these crucial stages of their lives.

Russ Kapusinski joins us to talk about Parent Partnership and how parents and schools working in conjunction lead to a better education for children.

Colleen Dong joins us to discuss childhood development and why it is so important to find the right school for your child.

DJ Goodwiler joins us to talk about visual rhetoric and how graphic novels provide a platform from which we can learn to utilize it in our day to day lives.

Doug Jones joins the show to talk poetry--its interesting origins, why poetry is important, what can be gained from reading it, its connection to rhetoric, and he reads a few of his favorite poems for us in a special segment we have dubbed "Doug's Poetry Corner". We hope you enjoy this episode!

Jacob Mohler, the Chair of Math at the Cambridge School, joins us to talk about math as a liberal art--both how it is and is not a liberal art and why the distinction is important. Jacob's vigilant inspection of the process of math instruction and his intentional approach create a unique learning environment for his students. We hope that you enjoy the episode.

Carolyn McClaskey joins us to talk about how her perspective has changed now that she is a teacher's aide. Having been a Cambridge parent, Carolyn has a unique perspective on the Cambridge education now that she has had a look behind the curtain.

Coming full circle, Emma Kim joins us on the podcast to talk about what it is like to go from student to teacher at her alma mater and how being classically educated affects her experience in the classroom while educating the next generation to Think Well, Love Rightly, and Live Wisely.

A returning teacher shares her perspective on how things have changed since she taught here a decade ago and what her time away has made her appreciate about a Cambridge education.

Science Chair, Melissa Mayne, and everyone's favorite Chemistry teacher, Esther Han, join us to walk us through some science experiments they do with the high schoolers. From editing DNA to creating your own experiment, it's no holds barred when it comes to fun and exciting experiments in the Cambridge Laboratory.

WARNING! This episode contains a spoiler for a surprise event for Cambridge 6th graders! Parents with students in 6th grade or below should not listen with their students. Mrs. Kelsie Howze joins us to go over some of the fun events covered in 6th grade; one of which is unique not just in the world of classical education, but Cambridge as well! It is a surprise event for our students that really immerses them within the roaring 20s. Unlike other events that typically culminate students' studies of a given time period, this event kicks off their studies and gets the whole class excited to learn! Knock! Knock!

Our bard for the evening, Mrs. Paula Jones, guides us through the 4th grade literature curriculum where we dive deep into the epic Beowulf and learn of the significance it holds in the history of literature and within the intentional curriculum at Cambridge. We hope you enjoy!

Esther Berends, our second grade lead teacher, joins us on the podcast to share a unique lesson our second graders experience as they learn about ancient Egypt. This episode highlights historical integration as an organizing theme in our curriculum and illustrates lessons that cultivate wonder in our students.

Jim Hamilton walks us through a unique lesson that he created for 8th grade history in which the students role play citizen on the brink of the Peloponnesian War to see if they would make the same mistakes. This lesson presents an opportunity to learn through history and practice empathy.

Melissa Gingrich, our Upper School Principal, joins us to discuss the what and why of the Upper School Advisory Program. Melissa brings a unique perspective - being both the Upper School Principal as well as the mother of two graduates and a current Sophomore - that makes her especially equipped to discuss the program's objective and implications.

DJ Goodwiler, our Humanities Chair and Rhetoric Teacher, walks us through the Junior and Senior trips to DC and Italy. These trips culminate their studies of rhetoric and history, allowing the students to put their studies into practice as they interact rhetorically with historical places and spaces.

Alice and Ben, two of our 6th graders, join us to talk about their experience as Cambridge students. They offer unique insights into the Cambridge experience and advice for other Cambridge Students. It was a blast having Alice and Ben on and we were blown away with what they had to say! This is an episode you definitely do not want to miss!

Eric and Shelly Potwardowski join us to share their experience as parents at The Cambridge School. The Potwardowskis currently have children in every stage of The Cambridge Education (Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Aluma), making their experience an especially unique one. Listen in to hear about how their children's experiences have differed and how, as parents, they have handled the ups and downs as the school has grown with them.

3:16 on amazonHermann Zapf's illustration of John 3:161 Tim 3:16  "note the Russian orthodox cross in the negative space" -Dr. Settergrenliterateprogramming.comThe Annotated Turing, Charles PetzoldEyes in the Sky, Arthur Holland MichelBeauty and Joy of Computing:"We also think that computer programs (not just the pictures that programs can produce) can be things of beauty.... good programmers develop a sense of programming aesthetics." 

DJ Goodwiler joins us back on the show to discuss progymnasmata, a series of "pre-exercises" that our students practice before entering Rhetoric School.

Amy Tollefson, Business Manager at The Cambridge School, joins us to take us behind the scenes of operations--the human endeavor that keeps the wheels turning at Cambridge.

Jeff switches roles and joins us as a guest to talk development at The Cambridge School. Alli Kaye, our Development Coordinator, steps in as host for this episode. We hope you enjoy!

Leslie Yoder, our Director of Enrollment Management, joins us to discuss admissions at The Cambridge School. Leslie has a lot to say about the what makes admissions at Cambridge different than your typical admissions process.

Jean Kim speaks at the Society for Classical Learning on building a high performance leadership team

Jean Kim, founder of The Cambridge School, talks about the formation and importance of a leadership team.

Hana Rodgers, our 2nd and 3rd Grade team lead, sits down to walk us through a bit of the early Grammar School curriculum. She talks about feast days, 3rd grade events, our unique teacher partnerships, and how virtue development is cultivated in our students from a young age.

Jean gives her speech from Back to School Night 2016.

The Class of 2020 joins us on the podcast to describe their college admission process and how Cambridge has shaped their decision on which schools to pursue.

Jean speaks at Back to School Night 2015 about the need for Robust Rebirth of a Classical Christian Education.

Jean Kim, Founder of the Cambridge School, speaks to the need of an education like the Cambridge education. Listen Now!

Jean Kim joins our hosts Jeff and DJ to discus the way that Cambridge reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic--the decision process of closing the school, the migration to an online teaching format, and where we are at now as an educational program and as a community.

This is a speech that Jean Kim gave in 2017 at Back to School Night.  We hope everyone is staying healthy and safe!  

2020 College Acceptances 

Jump back in to Math at Cambridge with Par II of our discussion on what Math looks like at Cambridge.