Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Michael Adkins, Dean of Academics and Director of the Lower School of Saint Agnes School in St. Paul, Minnesota. They discuss the secret to keeping Catholic education faithfully Catholic. They dive into misconceptions about the word “classical” and how its popular conception has changed over time. They also explore the identity crisis driving people to reconnect with the cultural heritage of classical education. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Andrew Ellison, Vice President of Enrollment at the University of Dallas, and Amber Dyer, Head of School at Great Hearts Irving. Andrew introduces the exciting new University of Dallas–CLT Auto Admit Initiative, which grants automatic admission to students who score 88 or higher on the Classic Learning Test. The three also share insights on how to choose a college that values and cultivates a classical education. Finally, they reflect on the enduring legacy of former UD professor Louise Cowan, under whom Amber studied. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Josh Dyson, the Executive Director of the C5 Urban School Initiative, launching Hope Academy Wichita this coming fall. They discuss the founding of C5, the meaning behind its name, and its mission in serving inner-city communities. They conclude by exploring literacy as a core educational value and the importance of creating a safe, joyful learning environment.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Austin Stevenson, Assistant Professor of Theology at Palm Beach Atlantic University and former Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Austin reflects on his experience at Oxford and his transformation from initially seeing academia as a barrier to finding fulfillment and enjoyment in it. They explore why Christians have withdrawn from academic institutions in the past, and the current shift as more Christians begin to reengage with higher education. They conclude by discussing his book, Consciousness of the Historical Jesus: Historiography, Theology, and Metaphysics, and Austin's venture to bridge the work of theology with biblical scholarship. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Jason Bedrick, Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Center for Education Policy. The two discuss the Phoenix Declaration, a document espousing an American vision for education. Together, they explore the outlined principles of the document, including the role of parents as primary educators, the reality of objective truth, and the vital importance of passing on cultural heritage. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Sara Osborne, the author of Reading for the Long Run: Leading Struggling Students into the Reading Life and Assistant Professor of English and Director of Classical Education at College of the Ozarks in Missouri. They examine the claims that classical education is elitist and explore how classical schools can position themselves to challenge that perception. Sara shares her journey teaching her children how to read and some of the challenges that come with meeting different students' needs. They dive into anecdotes and insights from her book, including the importance of viewing literacy as an individual journey. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Loren Rotner, Associate Provost, and David Puelz, Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science at the University of Austin. They discuss what makes UATX distinct, including its heterodox faculty, emphasis on tech education, and full tuition scholarships for all admitted students. They talk about the decision to grant automatic admission to any student who scores a 105 or higher on the CLT, with encouragement and guidance for all looking to apply.

On this episode of Anchored, CLT's Brand Marketing Manager Taryn Boyes is joined by Aryanna Highfill and Kate Creecy to discuss their experience participating in the National Home School Speech and Debate League, STOA. They discuss the array of skills STOA helped them develop, dive into how it shaped their high school experience, and share how it prepared them for their college years and beyond. They also discuss how to approach the competitive aspect of speech and debate.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by James Cowart, head of Trinitas Christian School in Pensacola, Florida. They discuss why music is a key part of education at Trinitas. They dive into the nuances of school choice and the strings that often come attached to government money. James concludes by discussing his advice for those looking to start a new classical, Christian school.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Leslie Voorhees, director of member schools at Ambleside Schools International, an organization that offers a Charlotte Mason educational approach to schools around the world. They discuss Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy and the way it translates into principles at the Ambleside schools. They explore the benefits of an education that centers and values the potential of every child. They conclude by discussing the differences and similarities between Charlotte Mason and classical education. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and special guest co-host, CLT Chief of Staff  Katie Prefontaine, are joined by Cornel West and Robert George. Cornel serves as a professor of philosophy in Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary and is an emeritus professor of African-American Studies at Princeton University. Robert is a professor of Jurisprudence and the director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. The two discuss their deep bond of friendship, built on the basis of pursuing truth and fostering intellectual humility, explored in their recent book Truth Matters. They discuss how to cultivate these relationships and bring people to the table for these conversations. They conclude by examining the importance of studying both the progressive and conservative traditions for the flourishing of the individual and society as a whole.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Jamie Burns and Hin-Tai Ting, co-founders of the Fellowship for Classical Learning and educators setting up classical schools across the UK. They discuss the current state of education in the UK and the troublesome separation of value-conversations from classroom-conversations. They dive into their own journeys to believing in the importance of a classical Christian education from both an intellectual and personal perspective. They conclude by talking about some of the roadblocks to classical education in the UK and why they are motivated to overcome them. St. Anselm's, School co-founded by Jamie Burns: https://www.stanselmscardiff.co.uk/ The Fountain Christian School, of which Hin Tai Ting is the founding headmaster: https://www.thefountainschool.london/ 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Brian Dellinger, professor of computer science at Grove City College. They discuss the definition and history of artificial intelligence, and Brian illustrates how biases can influence AI programs. They delve into both the ontological confusion and differentiation that AI provokes. They explore the importance of approaching technology as a gift from God and how his upcoming book, tentatively titled God and AI, aims to make AI more accessible and less overwhelming from a Christian perspective.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Robert Garrow, founding principal of Golden View Classical Academy in Golden, Colorado. They discuss the push back Golden View has faced for teaching The Bible in a literary and historical context as a classical charter school, and the state of school choice in Colorado. They also talk about the challenges of recruiting, training, and retaining teachers who have a classical orientation and technical proficiency, as well as some of the strategies they've used to succeed in these areas. They conclude by discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of AI.  

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Christopher Loesser and Andrew King from Hundredfold Consulting. They discuss how schools could potentially claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funds as compensation for the COVID-19 restrictions they had to accommodate. They outline qualifications and the consulting and filing processes schools must complete before the April 15 deadline. They also talk about how the money can be used, and the ERC success stories they've already seen. 

On the episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Florida State Representative and founder of Employment Simplified Inc., John Snyder. They discuss Florida's efforts to support school choice and classical education. They also cover ESI's partnership with CLT, which helps assign teachers to schools through the CLT Classical Teaching Corps. They also dive into what happens once an applicant is accepted into the Corps and share good news for those who may still want to apply.Apply for the CLT Classical Teaching Corps: https://www.cltexam.com/classical-teaching-corps/Visit https://www.esiworks.com/contact/ to walk through the application process with one of their recruiters and explore next steps.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Jimmy Mitchell, director of campus ministry at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida and founder of Love Good. The two discuss the way music and architecture can soften the spirit and elicit noble desires. They dive into the culture of Jesuit Tampa and how sports, curriculum, and campus culture interact and create young men interested in faith and leadership. They also discuss the benefits of single sex education in combatting the cultural understanding of what it means to be a man. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy and Soren are joined by Erik Twist and Ben Lindquist, two of the founders of Arcadia Education. The four discuss the cultural gap in operational guidance for schools and faith-based organizations that brought about the need for Arcadia. They dive into the importance of valuing operations on par with missional drive. They also discuss the myth that there is a shortage of talented teachers in the classical education world and how Arcadia illuminates the opportunities for good schools to attract good teachers. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Allen Mendenhall, the associate dean and Grady Rozier professor for the Sorell College of Business at Troy University, where he also directs the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy. Mendenhall recently published an article in 1819 News entitled “Alabama Needs the Classic Learning Test.” The two discuss the problems with American education today, highlighting how educational vandalism and social engineering confuse the moral aims and core objectives of schooling. They dive into the College Board's contribution to eroding educational standards. They conclude by talking about some of the hopeful changes and initiatives that they are seeing on the academic landscape.

In this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by David Rancourt, provost and VP of enrollment at the New College of Florida. They discuss David's journey from playing football under Bobby Bowden to advocating for classical education. They dive into the history of New College of Florida and the campus' culture of civil discourse that allows people to hold and discuss a wide range of opinions and beliefs. They also talk about the media coverage of New College of Florida and David's experience navigating the press. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an affiliate of AEI's James Q. Wilson Program in K-12 Education Studies. Robert challenges the notion that education aims to teach people how to think rather than what to think. They discuss the importance of literacy and equipping students with the basic background knowledge and vocabulary to be able to decode the texts they encounter, and how classical education does this well. They conclude by talking about the telos of education, in which students learn what it means to be human, not just how to get a job. A previous Anchored episode featuring Robert Pondiscio is mentioned in this episode. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Rob Reynolds, founder, president, and executive producer of Christian media company Cross Boss Media. The two discuss his journey going from teaching in New York public schools to founding a real estate company to launching Cross Boss. They examine why Christian media matters and the importance of safeguarding your children when it comes to giving them access to phones. They also talk about the success of Studio 3:16, Cross Boss' educational comedy program based on Gospel passages. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty. Tiffany talks about her journey joining her local school board and how the challenges of COVID created an unexpected opportunity—what she calls “COVID lemonade”—for parents to see the indoctrination happening in public schools. They discuss the importance of local and state-level education reform. They also dive into the gender ideology issues that have circumvented parental influence and infiltrated public schools. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Jon Peede, president of Ashland University. They discuss his over a decade's worth of work in the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities and his experience learning from differing viewpoints as a conservative working in the arts. They discuss the possibility of a modern renaissance in art and how educational institutions can aid in that flourishing. They also dive into how Ashland's accent on the individual makes it a unique, classical educational experience. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Texas State Representative Brad Buckley, who discusses his educational journey, the importance of classical education, and recent reforms in Texas public education. Buckley emphasizes the need for rigorous instructional materials, the role of testing, and the significance of school choice and educational savings accounts. He also shares insights on the impact of literature in his life and the importance of parental involvement in education.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Hans Zeiger, president of the Jack Miller Center, a nationwide, nonpartisan educational venture that is dedicated to America's founding principles and civic education at every level. They discuss Hans' journey from public policy to the Jack Miller Center, and the crisis in civic education that sparked his interest. They explore the importance of knowledge for self-governing citizens and for the survival of the country. They also discuss specific areas where the educational system has failed, and some of the university programs that provide beacons of hope. 

This week's episode of Anchored features a speech delivered by Jeremy Tate, CEO of the Classic Learning Test, at the National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education at Benedictine College. Jeremy talks about the story of Catholic education in America. Jeremy highlights the challenges faced by Catholic schools today, including declining enrollment and the influence of secular educational standards, while also presenting a hopeful vision for revitalization through distinct Catholic identity and practices.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Rachel Campos-Duffy, host of FOX & Friends Weekend and the From the Kitchen Table podcast. Rachel shares her personal educational journey, the importance of authentic Catholic schooling, and her family's commitment to classical education. She discusses the challenges faced by Catholic schools, the revival of interest in Catholic education post-COVID, and the transformative experience her daughter had at the University of Dallas. She emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in their children's education and the integration of faith and values at home. Click here for “Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation” by Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Lynda Sloneker, President of StoaUSA, a Christian homeschool speech and debate league. They are also joined by Lynda's daughter, Alyssa. They discuss Stoa's history and mission and how it has personally impacted Alyssa's journey as a college student. They talk about debating with kindness and charity and the benefits of debating that extend beyond future career options. They conclude by discussing how debate has changed in light of the current political climate and how Stoa is working to fix what has been broken. 

In this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Kathleen O'Toole, the assistant provost for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College. In this conversation, Dr. Kathleen O'Toole discusses her journey in education, the impact of classical education on K-12 schooling, and the role of Hillsdale in shaping educational practices across the country. She emphasizes the importance of a solid foundational education rooted in the liberal arts and the mission of classical schools to cultivate good citizens. The discussion also touches on the political implications of education, the future of classical education, and resources for educators.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Gerard Alexander, a politics professor at University of Virginia the founder of The Blue Ridge Center. They discuss the strengths and shortcomings of UVA as an institution. They dive into the rampant self-censorship on college campuses and its effect on campus culture. Finally, they talk about The Blue Ridge Center as a program that allows college students to grapple with underrepresented topics and viewpoints. 

On this special episode of Office Hours with Jeremy Tate, Jeremy and Soren announce the launch of the CLT Classical Teaching Corps. Tune in to hear about how CLT is responding to the movement's biggest obstacle — finding well-vetted teachers — with the new CLT Classical Teaching Corps for college seniors. They also dive into the application, which opens today, and the guaranteed job security that comes with being chosen for the initiative. Apply for the CLT Classical Teaching Corps: https://www.cltexam.com/classical-teaching-corps/

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by John Boyle, professor of Catholic Students at the University of St. Thomas. They discuss the influence of St. Thomas Aquinas and John's newest book, Aquinas on Scripture: A Primer. John also talks about St. Thomas' curriculum and how the incarnation holds everything together. They also discuss their Catholic Studies program, including its structure, benefits, and presence at a larger, private university. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Justin Dyer, Dean of the School of Civic Leadership and professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. They discuss some of the benefits and resources that come with big, public universities like UT. They dive into the development and purpose of UT's new civic honors major and School of Civic Leadership. They conclude by discussing the decline of general civic knowledge and some of the educational reasons for it. 

In this episode of Anchored, Jeremy speaks with Salvatore Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco. They delve into Cordileone's path to the priesthood and his personal experiences with Pope John Paul II. They also discuss the evolution of Catholic education from its peak in the 1960s to the present day, and discuss potential signs of a renaissance in Catholic education. They conclude by examining why Catholic schools are inherently classical and how Catholicism enriches the teaching of the Western tradition.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Todd Krulak, professor and Director of the University Fellows and the Micah Fellows Honors College programs at Samford University. They are also joined by Taylore Miller, the new Director of College Partnerships at CLT and a Samford graduate. Miller discusses her experience at Samford and Krulak dives into their honors college programs: The University Fellows program distinguished by academic excellence and the Micah Fellows distinguished by service. They also discuss the inviting yet unapologetically Christian environment of Samford, and what kinds of students are a good fit for the university.

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 how the College Board recently removed a practice question linking female empowerment to low birth rates and how that correlates to the conversation around values-neutral education. A new National Review article by Daniel Buck pinpoints the virtue of classical schooling and the areas in which it is different from public education. They conclude by discussing a new College Board statistic revealing a decline in the rigor of the SAT math section, and why that may be in the College Board's best interest. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Nic Charbonneau, a principal classical architect at Harrison Design, a classical architecture firm. The two discuss how classical philosophy was manifest through the period's architecture and what this says about the modern worldview. Nic dives into what happened to the beautiful architecture of the past and predicts the future of architecture in light of the growing classical education renewal movement. They also discuss why classical schools should take place in buildings that reflect their purposes and values. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Will Inboden, a professor and Director of the Alexander Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. The two discuss the Center's importance to the classical ed movement, its future, and the five majors it offers. They also discuss his book The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink and the connection between statesmanship and Western civilization. Inboden concludes by advocating for classical education in higher education, even for the student who has already done years of classical schooling.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren welcomes five of CLT's summer interns: Ammon Corpron, Charlotte Crowell, Grace Ann Roth, Blake Schaper, and Gracey Washa to talk about their experiences interning for CLT this summer. Join the group as they discuss the skills they acquired and the projects they worked on the college partnerships, homeschool partnerships, policy and finance, customer service, and test development departments. The interns talk about some of the highlights and successes as well as a few stories about what goes on behind the scenes. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Preston Atwood, head of school at Westminster Academy in Memphis, Tennessee and author of Cantate Domino: A Liturgical Songbook for Classical Christian Schools. They discuss the difficulty and the necessity of figuring out how to flourish as a human being while serving as an administrator. Preston explains music as a liberal art and his belief that education without music is no education at all. They close by discussing his book, Cantate Domino as the classical education movement's songbook, as well as the value of repetition and liturgical music for educational formation. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by John Tweeddale, Vice President of Academics and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College. The two discuss how the Old and New Testaments and the Christian tradition point to classical education as the way to raise children. They dive into one of the educational legacies of the Protestant Reformation, and how the Enlightenment changed our cultural view of religion.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by David A. Armstrong, president of St. Thomas Univeristy in Miami, Florida. The two talk about the university's origins in communist Cuba, and Armstrong's own story that led to his commitment to Catholic education. They discuss how, amid an era of colleges closing, St. Thomas has seen record-high enrollment levels, and the secret to turnaround for schools facing decline. They close by talking about the effect of wokeism on the collegiate landscape and the future of St. Thomas as it is committed to maintaining a diverse, Catholic campus. 

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 how the SAT and ACT are making efforts to “evolve” and “adapt” with the times, leading to watered-down assessments that are more focused on convenience rather than achievement. Jason Bedrick, a friend of CLT, published an article outlining how classical education offers hope for civic renewal in America. Plus, we get to hear the inspiring story of a family that dropped everything and uprooted themselves to get their kids a classical education.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Michael Bryant from Charleston Southern University. The two discuss why a biblical worldview and the pursuit of knowledge go so well together. They talk about the effect of educational faith integration on the preservation of the liberal arts, and explain why education is never neutral when it comes to values. They also explore the culture's current issues with biblical illiteracy, and some of the work being done to remedy that. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Krista Autrey, director of the Center for Career and Calling at Geneva College. The two discuss the role faith played in Krista's life when she discovered the career and calling that married her passions for campus ministry and the international church. They dive into how to improve the conversation surrounding the value of a college degree. They also discuss how Krista uses the idea of deciding what is next, not what is forever, to alleviate pressure when discerning the future. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Mario Vasilescu, co-founder of Readocracy, a technology that allows people to track their knowledge in the form of data and share it with others. He explains the benefits of the technology as a way to discredit the culture of division and noise and award those who are mindful of what they put into their minds. They also discuss the origins of the company and the pitfalls of the current education system that leaves brilliant thinkers behind.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Marshall King, assistant professor of Biblical Studies at Carson-Neuman University in Tennessee. They discuss Marshall's interest in languages and his view of exercise as a metaphor for language learning. Marshall dives into understanding the university as a microcosm of the universe and archaeology as a similarly omnibus field. They conclude by exploring the roots and definition of digital humanities, and why Christians ought to explore this area of study as a part of their heritage. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Tracy Lee Simmons, journalist and author of books such as Climbing Parnassus and his most recent release On Being Civilized. The two discuss the popularity of and inspiration behind Climbing Parnassus as well as how it would be received had it been released today. They also discuss the importance of intellectual humility in approaching the humanities and the merits of starting with facts, names, and dates as stepping stones to understanding how a mind works. Finally, the two talk about his recent video with Memoria Press in connection to the difficulties of defining classical education. 

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.