This new book introduces readers to a paradigm for understanding classical education that transcends the familiar three-stage pattern of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Instead, this book describes the liberal arts as a central part of a larger and more robust paradigm of classical education that should consist of piety, gymnastic, music, liberal arts, philosophy, and theology. The book also recovers the means by which classical educators developed more than just intellectual virtue (by means of the seven liberal arts) but holistically cultivated the mind, body, will, and affections.
A must-read for educators wanting to take a second big step toward recovering the tradition of classical education.
“The foundational distinction between traditional education and modern education is that the ancients believed that education was fundamentally about shaping loves.”
“Just look at this book’s table of contents to see how much is included in this. It’s more than the old ‘seven liberal arts,’ but it builds on them. It is an education of the whole person, not just the calculating intellect. But it is not less ‘intellectual’ for that, but more so. . . . This little book is a description of that educational program. It’s precious—because children are precious.”
—from the foreword by Peter Kreeft, Boston College
“We needed this book and now it’s here. . . . Once you’ve read a book or two to introduce you to classical education and have started to ask the deeper questions about its history and nature, get this book and use it as a permanent reference.”
—Andrew Kern, Circe Institute
“Clark and Jain have produced a wonderful book that lays out clearly where classical Christian education needs to go from here. This volume marks the successful passing of the torch lit by Sayers and Wilson to a new generation. All involved in classical Christian education would benefit highly from heeding these new voices.”
—Jason R. Edwards, Grove City College
“This book is an important contribution to the classical education movement. . . . The authors speak . . . based on their unique combination of training in math, science, philosophy, and literature, as well as their crucial experience as classroom teachers. The book suggests what may yet be possible for those answering the call of the scholar-teacher.”
—Phillip J. Donnelly, Baylor University
"Some of us, after having immersed ourselves in the Trivium, thanks to Dorothy Sayers' essay and many other wonderful resources, have found ourselves wondering, 'What else?' We know there are seven liberal arts, including the Quadrivium, and we don't know exactly what to do with these other four, where to go next. Clark and Jain's The Liberal Arts Traditionhas the answers, and provides them in a clear, concise, non-partisan way. If you are wondering, 'What else?' then this is one resource you need to have on your bookshelf."
—Matt Bianco, Director of Education, Classical Conversations
Read a more in-depth review from Matt Bianco in this article from Society for Classical Learning
"A few weeks ago, I ordered two copies of The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education from Classical Academic Press. One copy is for myself. The other copy is for the principal of the parochial school my four children attend. You might say that each copy is worth its weight in gold. I found the text to be an informative synthesis of many important sources and topics related to educational methods. And just today, the principal of my children's school asked me to consider leading a faculty and staff development program utilizing the text."
—Rev. John O'Brian
