How old is classical education, and where does it come from? Today, we answer a listener question and dig into the history—Greece, Rome, and beyond—to show that classical education is older than you think. And no matter where you're from, this tradition has room for you. Join the conversation!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"The Violent Bear It Away" Flannery O'Connor (Paul)

"The Country of the Pointed Firs" Sarah Orne Jewett (Tanya)

The Middle Ages aren't just the Dark Ages! It's one of the richest literary eras in Western history. This week's Classical Et Cetera finds Jessica, Tanya, Paul, and Dr. Dan Scheffler building a reading list for the medieval world. From Beowulf and the Arthurian legends to Dante's Divine Comedy, Boethius, and Thomas Aquinas, there's so much to read here. Whether you're new to medieval literature or filling in the gaps, this conversation will show you what to read, where to start, and why these books still matter.

Best Books of the Middle Ages (476–1450 AD)

Literature picks:

Philosophy & Theology picks:

Margin Notes is a new book club podcast from the team behind Classical Et Cetera! Join Paul Schaeffer and three undergraduate students—each educated with Memoria Press curriculum—as they tackle great books and why they matter.

We're starting with Wendell Berry's "Fidelity," a short story about a farming community in rural Kentucky. At its heart, this story is about what it means to belong somewhere: both to a place and to a people. It's a beautiful and moving piece of writing, and it made for a great first conversation.

Purchase the book right here! https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/mcp/fidelity/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=MARGINNOTES&utm_campaign=001

#classicaleducation #highlandslatinschool #notredamecollege #lipscomb #bayloruniversity

Every homeschool parent hits this wall. In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common and frustrating challenges in home education: the child who just won't do the work. Is it attitude, or is something else going on? We discuss how to diagnose the real problem, why outside accountability matters more than you think, and what simple changes actually move the needle. If you're in the thick of it, this one's for you.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Farmer Giles of Ham" J.R.R. Tolkien (Paul)

"The Marriage Portrait" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica)

"The Calamity Club" Kathryn Stockett (Tanya)

"Miss Benson's Beetle" Rachel Joyce (Tanya)

"Why Knowledge Matters" E.D. Hirsch (Martin)

"The Schools We Need" E.D. Hirsch (Martin)

"The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion" Beth Brower (Martin)

What are the most essential resources for classical education, and where do you even begin? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Jessica, Paul, Tanya, and Martin share the books, journals, and periodicals that have most shaped their thinking on classical education. From Climbing Parnassus and G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy to the Wall Street Journal's review section, this is the list that we keep coming back to!

It's another Mailbag episode of Classical Et Cetera! This week the Core Four tackles your questions on several topics, including whether comprehension questions steal the joy of reading, how to school multiple children together as a family, and whether your kids even need to know why they're learning Latin. We also dig into the difference between the classical virtues and the fruits of the Spirit, and what to do with the Lord's name in vain when it shows up in literature. Send us your questions at [email protected].

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"After Midnight" Daphne Du Maurier (Paul)

"Brideshead Revisited" Evelyn Waugh (Tanya)

"Ironwood" Michael Connelly (Martin)

"The Marriage Portrait" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica)

"Cloud Cuckoo Land" Anthony Doerr (Jessica)

In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ the team discusses how classical educators and parents should approach nudity in classical art with students. What is the difference between beauty and sensuality? Why did classical artists portray the human form the way they did? And how can teachers guide students toward wisdom, dignity, and discernment when studying great works of art?

For those interested, here is Kyle Janke’s extended preface on nudity in classical art from _A Classical History of Art_ . In it, he explains the distinction between classical and modern views of the human body, beauty, and the purpose of art: https://www.memoriapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/A-Classical-History-of-Art-Preface.pdf/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=222

Learn more about Kyle Janke’s _A Classical History of Art_ course here:

What We're Reading from This Episode:

The Burnout Generation —Anne Helen Petersen (Paul)

Galahad and the Grail —Malcolm Guite (Kyle)

Lila —Marilynne Robinson (Kyle)

This Is Happiness —Niall Williams (Tanya)

The Fountains of Silence —Ruta Sepetys (Jessica)

The Odyssey —Homer (Jessica)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common objections to homeschooling: socialization. Are homeschoolers actually missing out socially? Do children really need classrooms and constant peer interaction to grow into mature, capable adults? We discuss the fears many parents face, the assumptions behind modern schooling, and what truly forms children. From co-ops and friendships to peer culture and family life, we explore how homeschooling shapes social development and why “socialization” may not mean what most people think it does. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on homeschooling, community, and raising well-formed children.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Time of the Child" Niall Williams (Kathy)

"The Dean's Watch" Elizabeth Goudge (Kathy)

"This is Happiness" Niall Williams (Tanya)

"The Labours of Hercules" Agatha Christie (Tanya)

"The Violent Bear It Away" Flannery O'Connor (Paul)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we discuss the “how” behind classical education. Why do we emphasize memorization, repetition, teacher-led classrooms, and rigorous books? Are these methods outdated, or are they essential to meaningful learning? We explore the purpose behind what we do, respond to common criticisms, and discuss how structure, discussion, discipline, and intellectual formation work together to shape not just knowledgeable students, but thoughtful and virtuous human beings.

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we ask a foundational question: What actually makes an education “classical”? Is classical education simply a collection of methods and old books, or are there essential pillars that cannot be removed? The Core Four discuss Latin, literature, moral formation, the Western tradition, and why classical education is more than a modern curriculum with classical decorations added on. Join us as we explore what belongs at the center of a truly classical education.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Galahad and the Grail" Malcom Guite (Martin)

"The Last of the Mohicans" James Fenimore Cooper (Martin)

"Smiling Through the Cultural Catastrophe" Jeffery Hart (Martin)

"The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Paul)

"Mary Poppins" Pamela Lyndon Travers (Paul)

"The Confederacy of Dunces" John Kennedy Toole (Paul)

"A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens (Tanya)

"Fountains of Silence" Ruta Sepetys (Jessica)