Developing Classical Thinkers

Join Will Begley, Matt Ogle, and Travis Copeland as they discuss the poetry of Gerald Manly Hopkins (1884-1889), including the poems "Spring," "The Caged Skylark," and "As Kingfishers Catch Fire."

Gerald Manly Hopkins' Biography: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gerard-manley-hopkins

Spring: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51002/spring-56d22e75d65bd

The Caged Skylark: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44391/the-caged-skylark

As Kingfishers Catch Fire: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44389/as-kingfishers-catch-fire

Information on the Eurasian Skylark: https://ebird.org/species/skylar

In our final episode of the 2020-2021 school year, Travis, Josh, and Winston discuss the life and works of British novelist J.R.R. Tolkien, his inclusion in a Classical curriculum, and our favorite works of Tolkien.

Have a wonderful summer break, DCT fans!

Allison Burns, Emily Bass, and Jessie Gillooly interview five members of the Thales Academy Apex Class of 2021. Nick Lucovsky, Ashley Josey, Shae Reinberg, Brendan Lynch, and Hannah Jury discuss their time at Thales Academy, ways the unique classical education has benefited them, and where they are going next. Check it out!

Congratulations to all of our wonderful seniors!

In this episode, Winston Brady talks with Brian Balfour about economics, schools of economic thought, and the role that a right understanding of economics plays in a free society.

For context, Brian Balfour is Senior Vice President of Research for the John Locke Foundation, where he oversees the organization’s research and analysis on a variety of issues. He specializes in fiscal policy issues and is also the author of the e-book “Economics in Action,” which teaches the free-market principles of the ‘Austrian School’ of economics.

Check out "Economics in Action" here: https://www.nccivitas.org/econbook/

In this panel discussion, Bob Luddy (founder of Thales Academy), Josh Herring (Dean of Students), and Ethan Delves (Class of 2021) discuss the importance of Classical education, the value of reading a lot of books, and the Thales experience.

Ethan Delves has been at Thales Academy since kindergarten and we are all very proud of his accomplishments. Congratulations, Ethan!

Ashley Bahor and Josh Herring interview five members of the Thales Academy Rolesville Class of 2021. Morgan Taylor, Joojoo Rahim, Sophia Bany, Grayson Sakell, and Gabriel Walker discuss their time at Thales Academy, ways the unique classical education has benefited them, and where they are going next. Check it out!

In this episode, Winston Brady and Josh Herring talk about all things debate: debate tips, debate skills, debate strategy, plans for new debate tournaments and debate electives at Thales Academy, as well as an upcoming look at Josh Herring's new podcast and YouTube show, The Optimistic Curmudgeon, coming in August of 2021.

Winston Brady speaks with Andrew Kern, President of the CiRCE Institute. In this episode, Winston and Andrew talk about virtue and the role of a Great Books education in cultivating virtue and the role Classical education has in helping students to form good character and cultivate good habits, as well as the incredible importance of teaching students how to pay attention and resolve discord in an age where such things are increasingly hard to do.

More information about CiRCE, or the Center for Independent Research on Classical Education, can be found at their website: https://www.circeinstitute.org/

In this brief episode, we take a look at the Socratic Method. We look at how Benjamin Franklin used the Socratic Method in his own life, how Socrates asked questions of his interlocutors to encourage them to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty, and how the Socratic Method is used in the Classical classroom to help teach students how to think, not what to think.

On today’s episode, Winston Brady speaks with Dr. Wilfred McClay, an intellectual historian and the author of the recent textbook on American history, “Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story.” Dr. McClay is currently the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty at the University of Oklahoma but will soon be joining the faculty at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

In this episode, they discuss trends in contemporary American politics, the influences on, and the education of, the Founding Fathers, and the enduring importance of studying history for character formation and the cultivation of virtue.

Check out “Land of Hope” available here: https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/land-of-hope-paperback/