Hillsdale College's excellent Imprimis newsletter arrived this week. Larry Arnn wrote a superb essay on the four pillars of education upon which the college was founded: learning, character, faith, and freedom. There are many takeaways for the classically inclined educator. In speaking of the college's founders he says they believed:
Liberal education is the road to good living, good citizenship, and good statesmanship.
College is about thinking, and the refinement and informing of the intellect is its first purpose. This requires in turn the education of the whole human being.
Doing and thinking work together to form character. If character is not courageous, moderate, and just, then not only will (students) be craven in action, but thinking will be impaired.
All of our judgments of good and bad, better and worse, implies some standard that is complete or perfect.
It is better to inspire allegience to a cause than to self and that is most effectively done through beautiful language.
Things that have been thought good for a long time are worthy of our attention, respect, and study.
He goes to discuss permanence, change, and forms of government so eloquently I will not attempt to sum up but rather will share the link to the essay here if you'd like a short but compelling read to mull over.
note: I will add the disclaimer that I do not think these principles apply only to the college environment nor do I specifically endorse a particular institution.
Honestly, very few institutions are at all like Hillsdale in pursuit of "learning, character, faith, and freedom." There are some others, some of which are Catholic. I personally believe such an education is worthwhile. https://newmansociety.org/the-newman-guide/recommended-colleges/
Posted by: Mary Jean Schweiter-Lowe | January 11, 2020 at 07:36 PM