šŸ“ A fresh look at classical education (#133)

What happens when classical education meets modern flexibility? Classical schools have doubled in the last decade. Plus: A new way to bring this time-tested approach home without the rigid schedule.

Author

Charlie Deist
February 12, 2025

In todayā€™s edition:

  • Why the oldest teaching methods still work best

  • The surprising force driving classical education's growth

  • How to get a classical education without the rigid schedule

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šŸ’” THOUGHT

FIRST WATCH, THEN CREATE

For all our apps and algorithms, the most powerful learning method remains unchanged:

Watch.
Practice.
Create.

It's how Renaissance artists learned from masters. How composers learned from Bach. How entrepreneurs learn from mentors. The tools change. The process stays the same.

šŸ“Š TREND

CLASSICAL EDUCATIONā€™S QUIET REVOLUTION

Classical schools have doubled in number over the past decade, now reaching nearly 1,000 nationwide. While private schools still make up about 75% of classical schools, it's public charter versions that are leading the expansion, often serving 2-3 times more students than their private counterparts. H/t to Rick Hess at AEI.

šŸ”Ø TOOL

GREAT HEARTS ONLINE

Classical education has traditionally required rigid schedules and in-person attendance. Great Hearts Online (available through OpenEd) removes those constraints. Their full classical curriculum offers asynchronous, self-paced courses for families wanting maximum independence from standardized testing.

The model combines traditional liberal arts with advanced math and science, delivered through instructional videos and independent assignments.

Thatā€™s all for today!

ā€“ Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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