The renewal of classical education has grown significantly over the last two decades. However, even seasoned classical educators agree that it can still be difficult to answer the fundamental question: “What is classical education?” In this foundational course, Dr. Christopher Perrin provides a clear definition of classical education and then explores key questions, including:
- What is classical education—how do we define it?
- How should we talk about classical education? What words are fitting?
- To what may we compare it? What images and analogies help us best understand classical education?
- How do we classify it? What are the main elements of classical education?
- What are the liberal arts and why are they called “liberal” and “arts”?
- What is the history of classical education, and how does it compare with modern, progressive education?
- Who are some of the great minds and writers that have influenced the development of classical education?
- Why is a robust community so important for the development of a classical school or homeschool?
- What are some of the various “flavors” of classical education that have existed in the past and that exist today?
- How do we practice and implement classical education in our homes and schools today? What are the main pedagogical principles that inform how classical educators teach?
- How do we deepen our understanding of classical education? What are some of the important books I should read to learn more about classical education?
Dr. Christopher Perrin, MDiv, PhD, is an author, consultant, and speaker who specializes in classical education. He is committed to the renewal of the liberal arts tradition. He cofounded and serves full-time as the CEO/publisher at Classical Academic Press, a classical education curriculum, media, and consulting company. Christopher is also a consultant to charter, public, private, and Christian schools across the country. He is the director at the Alcuin Fellowship with the Institute for Classical Schools and the former board vice president of the Society for Classical Learning. He has published numerous articles and lectures that are widely used throughout the United States and the English-speaking world.
To learn more about earning a certificate for this course, please visit “How do I Obtain a Course Certificate?” on our FAQ page. Our course certificates are valued by classical schools and co-ops worldwide, and you can also be on your way to obtaining a Level 1 certificate with your completion of this course. Teachers certified with either ACSI or ACCS will see continuing education unit (CEU) credits listed on our course certificate for you to submit to either organization (with more information on certification credit here).
View Dr. Perrin’s bi-weekly articles and podcasts at https://christopherperrin.substack.com/