Modern education often promises clarity, efficiency, and measurable results. But what if those very strengths are quietly reshaping what we believe education is for?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with Joshua Pauling to explore the subtle but powerful influence of what he calls the “tyranny of technique.” When systems, metrics, and methods take center stage, students can easily become outputs to manage rather than persons to form.

Josh brings a thoughtful perspective shaped by years in public education, classical education, and his work launching a new hybrid classical school. Together, they reflect on how common educational practices can unintentionally erode relationships, diminish wonder, and narrow our vision of formation.

But this conversation is not merely critical - it is deeply constructive.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What Joshua Pauling means by the “tyranny of technique” and how it shows up in modern education
• How efficiency, grading systems, and metrics can subtly redefine what success looks like
• Why relationships, trust, and contemplation are essential to true learning
• The role of narration, oral assessment, and embodied practices in forming students
• What it looks like to resist a purely mechanistic model of schooling
• How Josh’s hybrid classical school is pursuing a more humane and restful vision of education
• Practical encouragement for parents and educators seeking to prioritize formation over performance

This episode is an invitation to step back and reconsider our assumptions. For parents, educators, and school leaders alike, it offers a compelling reminder: education is not primarily about producing results, but about raising human beings.

Show Notes:

• All Saints Classical Academy
• Are We All Cyborgs Now? Reclaiming Our Humanity from the Machine
• Writing Portfolio

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.com

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

Where do classical Christian schools find their teachers, and how are they trained?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with Dr. Rob Jackson to explore one of the biggest challenges facing classical education today, building a strong pipeline of teachers.

As more schools launch and grow, many are realizing that traditional certification programs do not prepare teachers for the classical classroom. Instead, schools are looking for educators with a love of their subject, a commitment to wisdom, and a willingness to be formed through mentorship and experience.

Dr. Jackson shares where schools are finding teachers today, including recent graduates, second-career professionals, homeschool parents, and experienced educators searching for a better model.

The conversation also highlights the role of apprenticeship, mentorship, and ongoing training in helping teachers grow in both skill and confidence.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why traditional teacher certification often falls short
• Where classical schools are finding teachers today
• How mentorship and apprenticeship shape strong educators
• What schools are really looking for in a teacher

Join us as we explore how schools are raising up the next generation of teachers and strengthening the future of classical Christian education.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.com

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

In this next episode in the BaseCamp Live series exploring classical Christian education, Davies Owens welcomes Dr. Michael Adkins for a thoughtful conversation about what classical Christian education really is and why that question matters so much for families, schools, and the future of society.

Dr. Adkins brings both historical depth and practical insight as he explains that classical Christian education is not primarily about training students to do more, but about forming them to become a certain kind of person. In contrast to modern models that often focus on utility, credentials, and workforce preparation, this conversation highlights an older and richer vision of education, one centered on truth, goodness, beauty, wisdom, and virtue.

As part of this ongoing series, the episode helps listeners see that classical Christian education is not a trendy alternative or niche experiment. It is part of a much larger tradition that has shaped the West for centuries. Davies and Dr. Adkins trace the historical shift from a largely biblical and classical model of education to the progressive philosophy that reshaped modern schooling, showing how those changes affected not only academics, but also the way students understand freedom, authority, responsibility, and the purpose of life itself.

This episode is both a defense of classical Christian education and an invitation to better understand its roots, its goals, and its lasting relevance in a modern world that often feels confused and disordered.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why classical Christian education is about formation, not just information
• How this episode fits into the larger BaseCamp Live series on classical Christian education
• Why modern education shifted from cultivating virtue to emphasizing utility
• How understanding the history of education helps families make wiser choices today
• What thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois, Joseph Pieper, and others contribute to this conversation

How classical Christian education helps students gain the clarity and cultural literacy needed to navigate today’s world

If you have ever wondered whether classical Christian education is simply a trend, a niche alternative, or something much bigger, this episode offers a compelling answer. It is a reminder that education is never neutral, and that recovering a richer vision of learning may be one of the most important tasks before us.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.com

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.