Issue 10 | Discovering Science

Science constitutes a vast network of ideas, experiments, tools, methods, and purposes handed down by a great assembly of philosophers and scientists—from Aristotle to Francis Collins, from Albertus Magnus to Madame Curie. How can we possibly teach the next generation to understand the scope and structure of the Scientific Project, such an astonishing repository of inherited knowledge? This issue includes Dr. Jon Fennell on Michael Polanyi, Great Hearts alumnus and engineer Carlos Trevino, John D. Mays on mastery learning in the science classroom, master teacher Dominic Martel on science as a liberal art, and two poems by J. C. Scharl.

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Issue 10: The Director’s Take

How often do we hear of the importance of STEM education today? Given the ubiquitous presence of modern technologies and the achievements of contemporary science, we are literally immersed in a world of STEM-related accomplishments. From GPS-guided travel to microsurgical procedures to web-based commerce, the panoply of modern wonders surrounds us at every turn.

Trust in Science

“Trust the science!” How often have we heard this phrase flung around in the last eighteen months? But what does it mean? And, more deeply, what role does trust play within science, a venture famously dependent on constant questioning? The writings of Michael Polanyi, a world class research scientist who at mid-career took up philosophy, shed some light.

Profiles in Classical Education: Carlos Trevino

Carlos Trevino graduated from Scottsdale Preparatory Academy in 2017. Since then, he has graduated from MIT and gone on to a career in software engineering. In this interview, VIRTUE catches up with him to find out how a classical education has shaped him as a person and an engineer.

From Cramming to Mastery

I like to ask chemistry teachers what it would be like if their students showed up at the beginning of a new school year with a thorough knowledge of the metric system prefixes and complete proficiency at performing unit conversions. The teachers usually smile, roll their eyes, shake their heads, and mutter something like, “That’ll be the day!”

Two Poems

The question, rain is to fish as what is to us? bothers me. Is it as lightning, wind, bombs? Maybe it is like miracles, or nightmares. Who can say what it is we live in?

Learning to Look at Rocks: Dominic Martel

Dominic Martel earned a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona. He has taught Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry and is the Master Science Teacher at Cicero Preparatory Academy in Scottsdale. He has taught at the school for six years and is among their most long-serving faculty.