Back in July 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Western Consortium of Classical Educators in Sacramento, California, representing the Anglican School Association. Hosted by Acacia Classical Academy and sponsored by Kepler Education, this event gathered educators, parents, and leaders passionate about the renewal of Classical Christian Education.
The Anglican Vision for Education
The Anglican School Association exists to support member schools in fulfilling the spiritual, intellectual, and moral objectives of an Anglican educational program. Anglican schools aim to educate and nurture the whole person, deeply rooted in Christian formation. Our tradition holds that education is a means of fulfilling baptismal promises, participating directly in the mission of the Church, and forming students in both faith and intellect.
By engaging with the wider classical education movement, Anglican schools affirm their commitment to an integrated vision where faith, learning, culture, and life are brought into harmony. Classical education, with its emphasis on the trivium, virtue formation, and a Christ-centered curriculum, aligns closely with the Anglican vision of education as a ministry of pastoral care.
A Day of Rich Conversations
The Western Consortium of Classical Educators was structured as a one-day intensive designed for parent educators, homeschooling families, co-op teachers, and community leaders seeking a deeper understanding of Classical Christian Education. The event featured a lineup of distinguished speakers, each contributing unique insights into the classical renewal:
- Dr. Scott Postma, CEO and President of Kepler Education, set the tone for the day by emphasizing the foundational principles of Classical Christian Education and how they differ from modern educational models.
- Dr. Chris Swanson, President of Gutenberg College, provided a compelling discussion on the importance of Socratic dialogue in fostering wisdom and discernment in students.
- Mr. Tim Krumal, Head of Program for Legacy Classical Academy, shared strategies for implementing classical pedagogy in both brick-and-mortar schools and homeschool settings.
- Dr. Karla Memmott, Head of the Board for Acacia Classical Academy, offered a valuable perspective on the usefulness of grades and other academic assessment tools.
Anglican Engagement with the Classical School Movement
Attending this event as a representative of the Anglican School Association was an exciting opportunity to connect with like-minded educators who are committed to the recovery of classical learning. Many participants were eager to learn more about how Anglican schools are preserving the classical tradition while maintaining a sacramental and liturgical framework.
In our conversations, several themes emerged:
- The renewal of classical Christian education is gaining momentum, and Anglican schools are uniquely positioned to contribute to this movement with our emphasis on historic Christianity and rigorous academics.
- Many classical educators are seeking a rooted theological framework—one that Anglicanism, with its rich tradition of catechesis, worship, and intellectual inquiry, can offer.
- The Anglican model of education, which sees schools as ministries of the Church, resonates with the idea that education is not merely an intellectual pursuit but also a formation of the soul.
Looking Ahead
This conference reaffirmed the need for greater collaboration between Anglican educators and the broader classical Christian Christian education movement. As we continue to support and certify Anglican schools, our mission remains clear: to uphold the highest standards of academic excellence, spiritual formation, and moral development in the service of Christ and His Church.
If you’d like to learn more about the Anglican School Association and how we support classical Anglican education, feel free to reach out or visit our website. We welcome families and educators to visit our work at Canterbury School in Los Altos to get an idea what we are building!
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