Classical Education in America: What It Was and Can Be Again with Christopher Perrin February 25, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
The tradition of classical, liberal arts education in America was present from the beginning of the nation and before. Both the flowers and seeds of this tradition were carried forth across the Atlantic in the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The tradition was embedded in the Mayflower Pact and in the governing norms of the Massachusetts Bay colony. It can be seen flourishing in the Federalist Papers and in the Constitution – what Chesterton called the creed upon which the United States was founded. In this presentation, we will trace the flowering of this tradition, noting the ways in which American education flourished and then slowly withered; but then also noting the ways it is remerging with new vitality, like those perennials that seem to disappear in the winter only to come back in the spring in greater numbers.
The Science of Reading (Books) with Doug Lemov February 26, 2026 @ 8:30 AM
The educational psychologist Daniel Willingham notes that we have learned more about how people learn in the last 25 years than in the previous 2500 and yet much of that learning remains under utilized in our schools and classrooms – and nowhere is that more true than in the area of reading. In this talk, Doug Lemov will summarize seven key research-backed principles that should guide reading instruction “post phonics” – that is, after students have learned their letter sound correspondence through systematic, synthetic phonics – and he spends a little extra time discussing perhaps the most surprising of the seven principles – the idea that reading books – whole books, great ones, together as a class – is one of the most important things teachers can do to foster achievement and knowledge.
Teach Like a Champion Workshop with Doug Lemov and Robert Pondiscio February 26, 2026 @ 10:30 AM
Doug Lemov and Robert Pondiscio will lead a workshop addressing the best techniques for whole class reading of (ideally, great) books.
Teaching Teenagers: A Classical Vision to Reach an Anxious Generation with Dan Scoggin February 26, 2026 @ 12:30 PM
This workshop will discuss the cultural and personal headwinds our teens encounter in fully embracing a classical education today. How can we as school leaders and teachers create better conditions for them so they can seek virtue authentically? We will discuss teaching and motivational strategies that enable teens in our schools to find their unique potential within a lasting tradition of excellence.
The Future of Literacy in an AI World with Alex Petkas, John J. Goyette, and Erin Valdez February 26, 2026 @ 1:45 PM
What is the future of literacy in a world where AI tools can be used to produce research, poetry, essays, and other creative work formerly assumed to be solely the domain of humans? This panel will steel-man the case against literacy and challenge the panelists and audience to set aside wishful thinking to explore the most robust and compelling responses to the critics of classical education.
Preaching Beyond the Choir: How Should We Make the Case for Classical Education to the Uninitiated? with Steven Wilson, Ian Rowe, and Angel Adams Parham February 26, 2026 @ 3:30PM
Most (if not all) Symposiasts have a clear notion of classical education and find its virtues to be self-evident. But how should we make classical education legible and attractive to new audiences? How can the virtues of classical education be conveyed to the unversed, the circumspect, even the hostile? And how ought we to do this without undermining, distorting, or dumbing-down its essential elements? What are the biggest misconceptions about classical education? And what are the best ways to defuse them? Our panel of experts will contemplate these questions and more.
Exodus and the American Founding with Susan McWilliams Barndt February 27, 2026 @ 8:30AM
The most cited piece of literature in the political speeches, sermons, and publications of the American founding is not a work of Enlightenment scholarship. It’s not a work of modern political philosophy. In fact, it’s about as far from a modern piece of writing as a piece of writing can be. The most cited piece of literature in the American founding is the biblical story of the Exodus – and it’s not a close competition. In this talk, I’ll reveal the important and often surprising role that the ancient story of the Exodus played in the American founding, particularly during the first week of July in 1776. I’ll also talk about what we can learn about American politics and history if we come to appreciate the place of the ancient Exodus, not just in the American founding but in American political thought (and particularly African-American political thought) more generally.