by Lisa VanDamme

I have spent my twenty-five years as a teacher further and further refining my purpose, to its present obsessive focus. My animating ambition, the one I live, sleep, and breathe, is to help people learn to love – to love – great literature. Read More

As we mentioned in our last bulletin, a group of classical educators and scholars has launched Principia, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing scholarship on classical education. As Brian Williams, General Editor, reports in his article introducing the journal, forty years of education renewal has spawned a growing body of scholarly research and writing. Read More

In “A Sketch of Individual Development” (1880), George MacDonald, best known for his works of fantasy such as A Princess and Curdie and Lilith, describes an imaginary boy coming to full consciousness, from infancy into adulthood. In this excerpt, he reflects on the impact that a serious encounter with science in late high school or college might have on the development of mind and heart. Read More

Events of Interest

Walk the Camino with the University of Navarre (June 19-30, throughout Spain) - A summer youth program covering a wide range of interests: from the origins of The Camino to Spanish language and culture. High school sophomores and juniors can immerse themselves for 2 weeks in the Catholic intellectual tradition of the Way of Saint James and discover the oldest pilgrimage trail in Europe.

Recusancy and Revival: The Persecution and Rebirth of Catholicism in Our Lady's Dowry (July 17–27, 2023, Oxford and London) - Experience England’s Catholic roots, delve into the backgrounds of saints and martyrs, and learn more about the revival of Catholicism in England. The program will feature a rich combination of lectures and visits to historic sights. Graduate students of all levels and disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Further Enrichment

"On Hearing Shakespeare" - Brad Miner encourages us to educate ourselves by enjoying Shakespeare and other art.

Tending Roses - Grace Steele, a literature teacher, blogs about cultivating beauty. We especially recommend her recent article "The Modern Lotus-Eaters" and her new Poetry Periodical.

"Literature and the Quest for Meaning" - Lisa Vandamme explores how literature helps us find meaning, which is essential to a happy life.

Arts of Liberty Study Guides - Teachers, students, and lifelong learners alike can deepen their understanding of great works with the aid of dozens of free study guides here. Recent additions include a study guide on Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto and Eric Voegelin’s Science, Politics, and Gnosticism.

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