Neoclassical vs. Classical Education with Kiernan Fiore
Beautiful Teaching consultant Kiernan Fiore shares her story of growing up alongside the renewal of classical education. Kiernan has been a classroom teacher, headmistress, and supporter of homeschoolers. In this episode, Kiernan offers a thoughtful critique of neoclassical education as someone moved by the spirit of classical education.
About Our Guest
Kiernan Fiore has worked as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, and curriculum developer since 2011. After receiving a Charlotte Mason classical home education, she earned a BA in English (summa cum laude) from Hillsdale College and an MA in English (Merit) from King's College, London. She is certified in 4-8th Grade ELAR and Social Studies in Texas. She began her teaching career at a private Charlotte Mason school and since then has worked in private, charter, and virtual schools to promote the benefits of classical education. Currently, she works as a freelance consultant for Beautiful Teaching and writes for the City of Ladies newsletter.
Show Notes
In this episode, Adrienne and Trae enter into a critique of neoclassical education, joined by Kiernan Fiore. Together, they consider how educators in the renewal of classical education can reflect on how the wholesale adoption and systematizing of one Dorthy Sayers essay has led to critical departures from the tradition.
In this conversation, we claim that Charlotte Mason affirmed and restored person-honoring principles and practices from the classical tradition in her time. We also point out that neoclassical education in practice tends to suffer from a pragmatism inherited from progressive philosophies of education. Finally, Kiernan paints a beautiful picture of the proper relationship between systematic lesson planning and teaching in the spirit of classical education.
Some topics and ideas in this episode include:
- Classical vs. Neoclassical
- Classical Education Appropriate for Our Time
- State and Societal Pressures on Parents and Teachers
- Teaching Classically in a Nonclassical School
- The Christian baptism of classical education
- Neoclassical vs. Classical Narration
- Systems vs. Conversations within Relationships
- Narration as Assessment or Art?
- Lesson Planning in the Spirit of Classical Education
Resources and Books & Mentioned In This Episode
- “The Lost Tools of Learning” by Dorthy Sayers
- Jason Barney on Charlotte Mason, Modern Science, and The Classical Tradition
- “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost
- Beautiful Teaching Online Courses
Kiernan’s Favorite Quote:
"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."
- Charlotte Mason’s Parents' National Educational Union motto
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Credits:
Sound Engineer: Andrew Helsel
Logo Art: Anastasiya CF
Music: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo
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