Proposing a Framework for an Education toward Virtue

By Josh Dyson In the section on Justice in his The Four Cardinal Virtues, Josef Pieper states, “Fundamental truths must constantly be pondered anew lest they lose their fruitfulness. In this lies the significance of meditation: that truth may not cease to be present and effective in the active life.”[1] A couple pages later he continues, “… human actions are properly human because they have … Continue reading Proposing a Framework for an Education toward Virtue

In Assigning Seniors Somber Sonnets

In his collection of poetry on loss and lament, Poet-Priest Malcolm Guite offers the following comparison of the use of a Drone in some forms of music to the experience of Loss in our lives. He says, “[“Drone” is] the word that describes that continuous repetitive sound we hear in some early forms of music, especially the Gaelic lament. The drone of the bagpipe grounds … Continue reading In Assigning Seniors Somber Sonnets

Yes is the New No – How to Say No by Saying Yes    

The following is one of the sessions from our 2019 Conference co-hosted by School of the Ozarks and held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO.  Yes is the New No – How to Say No by Saying Yes                For most of us, saying Yes is much easier than saying No. So how do you say No while maintaining relationships with others, … Continue reading Yes is the New No – How to Say No by Saying Yes    

What a Rubik’s Cube Taught Me About Teaching

My son received a Rubik’s Cube this last Christmas, but it wasn’t the first one he had received. We had given him one the year before, but it ended up slipping through a worm hole shortly thereafter. This year a second cube appeared around Christmas (whether it be a new one or the old one re-emerging from the alternate dimension, I cannot say for certain). … Continue reading What a Rubik’s Cube Taught Me About Teaching

Classical Roundup – December 28th, 2018

The Classical Roundup is a group of worthwhile articles, videos, and podcasts that I have found helpful on our journey of exploring classical Christian education in the 21stcentury. This video is an overview of a classical Christian education school that is located in Uganda. Amazing story about how this school came about and if you have time, I would recommend you learn more about Amazima to be … Continue reading Classical Roundup – December 28th, 2018

Gratitude: Feeling It Isn’t Enough

As leaders in our schools, it is no secret that not one of us is perfect. We all have our weaknesses. We all have our strengths. It is imperative that we are keenly aware which is which. This is true for a number of reasons, including our own development, how we structure our support team, what tendencies we must be aware of ourselves, and perhaps … Continue reading Gratitude: Feeling It Isn’t Enough

Time is of the Essence: Increasing Efficiency for Maximized Effectiveness (2018 Conference Presentation)

The following is one of the sessions from our 2018 Conference co-hosted by School of the Ozarks and held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. The full collection of presentations can be found at https://theclassicalthistle.com/2018-conference/. Time is of the Essence: Increasing Efficiency for Maximized Effectiveness Josh Dyson, Classical School of Wichita Whether you are an administrator, school teacher, homeschool mom, board member, parent, … Continue reading Time is of the Essence: Increasing Efficiency for Maximized Effectiveness (2018 Conference Presentation)

Friendship: Is Classical Education Possible Without It? (2018 Conference Presentation)

The following is one of the sessions from our 2018 Conference co-hosted by School of the Ozarks and held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. The full collection of presentations can be found at https://theclassicalthistle.com/2018-conference/. Friendship: Is Classical Education Possible Without It?                   Josh Dyson Classical School of Wichita The ancients regarded friendship as the most valuable of relationships. For Plato and Socrates, friendship … Continue reading Friendship: Is Classical Education Possible Without It? (2018 Conference Presentation)

Top 5 Posts of 2017

2018 is almost upon us, and it would be sad to forget the best of 2017 on The Classical Thistle. Here are the top five posts from this past year.   What Scares Me About Classical Education In the most popular article of 2017, Josh Dyson describes the fear that grips him with passing on classical education to our children. Insightful and worth a read … Continue reading Top 5 Posts of 2017

This Democracy Will Self-Destruct in 5, 4, 3…

“…are you not ashamed that you care for having as much money as possible, and reputation, and honor, but that you neither care for nor give thought to prudence, and trust, and how your soul will be the best possible?”[1]The above question is what Socrates asks of the jury of his peers as they are about to sentence him to death. Is this question not … Continue reading This Democracy Will Self-Destruct in 5, 4, 3…

Stop Loving People, Part 1

By Josh Dyson, Classical School of Wichita Note: This series was adapted from a talk I gave at the Classical Christian Schools Forum hosted by School of the Ozarks on Friday, March 3, 2017. 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who … Continue reading Stop Loving People, Part 1