by Sadie Hoyt of Classical Encounters

On Thursday, I boarded a plane for Florence, Italy. By Sunday evening, I was wandering starry-eyed through the Piazza della Signoria at twilight, surrounded by a living museum of Renaissance sculptures standing at the foot of the 14th century stone tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, once the palace of the Medicis, now the city’s seat of government. I was among throngs of people, most of whom, like me, had traveled halfway across the world to be dazzled by the proud commanding figures of idealized human form. Read More

by Colleen Hutt of Well-Read Mom

Readers who engage with literature thoughtfully—not just to "get through the story" but to seek meaning—activate their imagination to decipher the book’s relevance to their lives. This form of reading encourages critical thinking, cultivates the moral imagination, and trains aesthetic appreciation. By weighing the proposals of literature against one’s education, formation, and religious sensibilities, readers develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. Read More

by Jose Pieper

The concept of intellectual work has a number of historical antecedents, which can serve to clarify it.
First, it is based on a certain interpretation of the human knowing process. What happens when our eye sees a rose? What do we do when that happens?  Read More

Events of Interest

The Learnables: Towards the Reform of Mathematics in a Liberal Arts Curriculum (August 6-7) - Although many strides have been made in reviving the humanities portion of a liberal education, mathematics and the sciences have lagged behind. Our symposium will bring together theoretical and practical experts in liberal approaches to mathematics education, ancient and modern, to help us understand the difficulties and recognize opportunities.

2025 Summer Program Guide - Classical colleges offer a variety of summer programs through which high school students can experience life on campus, explore possible career interests, and delve into avenues of study. Some programs even offer college credit. The CLT Exam's 2025 Summer Program Guide highlights the incredible opportunities available at its Partner Colleges.

A Celebration of Logos & Pathos: Youth Conference (July 17-19) - This year is CiRCE’s second annual high schoolers conference. All high school-age students are welcome to come celebrate Logos and Pathos: what are they, what authority do they have over us, what authority should they have over us, how do we choose between them, how do we follow through on the choice that is made?

Further Enrichment

A Pilgrimage of Truth, Goodness and Beauty: A Humanities Syllabus - Bishop James Conley is creating “A Pilgrimage of Truth, Goodness and Beauty: A Humanities Syllabus.” See the books, film, art, music, and poetry recommended in his first installment here.

Chant for Children - Gregorian Chant is the foundation for the music of Western Civilization. Here, your child can finally learn how and why that is. Through practical exercises, listening, and fun conversations, you will unleash your child's voice and hear them singing the ancient melodies of Western civilization in just a matter of weeks!

Poems and passages that turn boys into men - Until recently, memorization was a key part of the standard American education. Bring your son or student into this tradition by starting with one of the short pieces recommended here by Phineas Geach.

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