Have the Liberal Arts Gone Conservative?

🌈 Abstract

The article explores the rise of the classical education movement in the United States, examining its history, philosophy, and the debates surrounding its implementation, particularly in underserved communities and its relationship to conservative politics.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Rise of Classical Education

1. What is the classical education movement and how does it differ from traditional public schools?

• The classical education movement aims to provide a traditional liberal arts education, often focusing on the Western canon and the study of citizenship. This is in contrast to public schools where curriculum and teaching methods vary widely.
• Key differences include:
  • Emphasis on phonics, grammar, and memorization vs. progressive teaching methods like "guessing words using context clues"
  • Focus on reading classic texts like Aristotle and Chaucer vs. more contemporary and diverse literature
  • Prioritizing moral formation and civics education

2. How has the classical education movement evolved over time?

• The modern classical education movement emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a pushback against progressive education reforms.
• It started with a handful of independent Christian schools but has since expanded to include Catholic, ecumenical, and charter schools without religious affiliation.
• The movement has also grown significantly among homeschooling families across the political spectrum.

3. What are some of the philosophical underpinnings of the classical education approach?

• Classical education is premised on the idea of objective truth and the purpose of school being to set students on a path toward understanding it.
• It emphasizes moral formation, ethics, and the study of "truth, beauty, and goodness" as core educational goals.
• The trivium model of learning (grammar, dialectic, rhetoric) is a key framework used in many classical schools.

[02] Debates and Controversies

1. How has the classical education movement intersected with conservative politics?

• Many conservatives have embraced classical education as an antidote to perceived "progressive indoctrination" in public schools, leading to its co-option into a more reactionary agenda.
• Figures like Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin have promoted classical education as a way to "recapture the norms" that America was built on and fight against "Marxist" influences in education.
• This has created tensions, as some see classical education's emphasis on the Western canon as inherently exclusionary and at odds with principles of diversity and inclusion.

2. What are some of the critiques of the classical education movement's Eurocentrism?

• Critics argue that the classical education movement's narrow focus on the Western tradition, particularly Greek and Roman thinkers, marginalizes the contributions of non-Western civilizations and thinkers of color.
• There are concerns that this perpetuates a colonial mindset and fails to reflect the diverse backgrounds of many students, especially in underserved communities.
• Efforts to diversify the classical canon and include more global perspectives have faced resistance from some within the movement.

3. How are classical schools navigating issues of identity, inclusion, and pluralism?

• There is a range of perspectives within the classical education movement on how to address issues of diversity and inclusion.
• Some schools and leaders are making intentional efforts to incorporate more diverse texts and perspectives, while others remain more resistant to deviating from the traditional Western canon.
• The movement's emphasis on moral formation and shared values can clash with the need to be responsive to the diverse identities and experiences of students.

[03] The Global Reach of Classical Education

1. How are proponents of classical education attempting to expand the model internationally, particularly in Africa?

• Classical education advocates like David Goodwin of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) have been actively promoting the model in countries like Kenya, framing it as a way to reconnect with the "origins of the West."
• However, this effort has faced pushback from Africans who see it as an imposition of a Eurocentric worldview that fails to adequately reflect their own cultural and intellectual traditions.
• There are concerns that the classical education movement's emphasis on Western civilization comes at the expense of acknowledging and valuing non-Western knowledge and perspectives.

2. What are some of the challenges and critiques raised by Africans engaging with the classical education model?

• Kenyan parents and educators have noted the lack of representation of African thinkers, composers, and cultural elements in the classical curriculum, which is heavily focused on Europe and the United States.
• There is a sense that the classical education movement is attempting to "dominate" and "take over" education in Africa, rather than truly engaging with and incorporating local knowledge and traditions.
• Some see the classical approach as fundamentally at odds with the lived experiences and cultural contexts of African students, despite claims of its "universal" applicability.

[04] The Future of Classical Education

1. How are classical education advocates navigating the tensions between their traditional approach and the need for greater diversity and inclusion?

• There is a divide within the classical education movement between those who are open to diversifying the canon and incorporating more global perspectives, and those who are more resistant to deviating from the traditional Western focus.
• Figures like Angel Adams Parham of the Classic Learning Test are pushing for a more pluralistic and inclusive vision of classical education, while others like David Goodwin maintain a more Eurocentric view.
• The movement's emphasis on moral formation and shared values can make it challenging to accommodate diverse identities and experiences, leading to ongoing debates about the movement's direction.

2. What is the potential for classical education to be a force for greater equity and inclusion, despite its historical associations with elitism?

• Some see classical education as having the potential for egalitarian appeal, with growing enrollment among Asian and Hispanic students in certain regions.
• The focus on rigorous academics and moral development could be compelling for underserved communities, if implemented in a way that is responsive to their needs and experiences.
• However, the movement's current Eurocentrism and associations with conservative politics present significant barriers to realizing this potential, requiring intentional efforts to diversify and democratize the classical approach.