Our guest in this episode is Andrew Kern, author and founder and CEO of the CiRCE Institute , who is a national leader in the classical Christian education movement. He and Ty Fischer talk about how a true education can and should point students to the glory of God, and, in so doing, provide an answer to our culture's "meaning crisis." Their dynamic conversation touches on scripture, on God's design for his creation and for us as his children, on education and discipleship, on culture, and so much more!

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Boulevard in Lancaster, PA, leading people to make better financial decisions, and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

Why read a bunch of facts about something in a textbook when you can get a first-hand account of what happened from someone who was there in the room where it happened?

That's pretty much the concept of using the Great Books as the textbooks of choice in classical Christian education.

At Veritas, a distinctive feature of secondary education is the Omnibus program, a comprehensive curriculum that combines literature, history, theology, civics, and philosophy. And, for the most part, students don't use textbooks for these classes. Rather, their textbooks are the "original sources;" that is, influential works written by authors and leaders of the time period.

Our teachers and students have experienced first hand why this is the best way to appreciate and understand history...and why that appreciation and understanding is so crucial to a person's formation of faith and ideas.

In this entertaining and eye-opening episode, three of our Omnibus teachers - Graham Dennis, Starling Reid, and Darin Beachy - talk with Mr. Fischer about their experience teaching history through the lens of the Great Books, how they inspire teenagers to wrestle with these difficult texts, and why the study of history alongside theology and philosophy is so vital to their development as citizens of our culture and disciples of Christ.

What does that look like at Veritas?

Well, instead of reading about the Peloponnesian War of the 4th century B.C., students read Thucydides' actual account and Aristophanes' plays. Rather than learn facts about Church history, they read Eusebius, Athanasius, and Dante's Divine Comedy. To grasp our country's founding principles, they read Locke, Rousseau, and Hobbes. Great works of 19th century literature is enjoyed and discussed in conjunction with understanding modern movements.

Think teenagers couldn't possibly be ready to digest this type of weighty material? Think again. A classical Christian education calls them to higher things, and year after year, our students rise to the occasion and thrive because of it! Find out how in this episode.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster, leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

Is virtue something that is innate? Or can it be learned, practiced, and grown in our lives? It's an important question, especially for students and young adults who are discovering God's calling and purpose for their lives.

Last year, we were privileged to host Dr. Grant Horner, Director of the Classical Liberal Arts Program at The Master's University, to speak with our 11th and 12th grade students on the topic of virtue: what is it, why we should aim for it, and what a virtuous life looks like for a disciple of Christ. And, he does it with plenty of humor as well as soul searching scriptural truths.

Parents - you will not only be inspired and exhorted yourselves to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" - but for those of you who have students at a classical Christian school, you will also be grateful that this is what your students' teachers are guiding them towards.

Listen to it all at once, or take some time to come back to this longer episode if you have to; it's a worthwhile listen all the way to the end, including some very thought-provoking questions from our students.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster, leading people to make better financial decisions, and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

If you've never been part of a church that uses catechisms regularly in their worship liturgy, you might not be familiar with this historical tradition and biblical teaching tool. You may even have a foggy view of catechisms as a dry and monotone concept. This podcast will help bring the notion of catechisms to life for your family, and help you see how you can use this valuable tool - which has been around for centuries (millenia, even) in the church - to pass down your faith to your children.

Veritas teachers employ catechisms in lower Grammar school, during devotions, handwriting and grammar practice, and more. They have seen how it helps to implant the foundational truths of God's word deep in kids' hearts and minds (and parents of Veritas students can probably attest to this fact, too!).

In this episode, Veritas Head of School Ty Fischer talks with two local pastors - Rev. Christopher Seifferlein of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church and Rev. Kasey Horvath of All Saints Church - about catechisms, including:

• What the purpose of catechisms has historically been in the church
• How catechisms help parents, pastors, and all believers grow and stay firm in faith
• How they have used catechisms to help pass on the faith to their children
• And more!

We hope you enjoy this insightful and encouraging episode and take away some ideas and inspiration for ensuring that these foundational truths are "written on the hearts" of your family, too.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management located on North Pointe Blvd. in Lancaster, PA leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

Dr. Ben Merkle, President of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, ID, spoke with Veritas juniors and seniors last year about the value of a college education...or, perhaps more accurately, the (often) lack of real value in today's typical college education.

His talk will give parents and students a new perspective on college, helping you rethink your reasons for investing in higher education and pulling back the curtain on what truly makes for a worthwhile college investment (according to employers).

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located at North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster, leading people to make better financial decisions, and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

It's one of the most essential, basic skills imparted in education - that is, the skill of reading. And when that skill is unlocked in a child, their world opens up, and their education expands with greater joy and success.

Kindergarten is where that happens for most kids, and while it is such a basic and crucial part of education, different methods for teaching kids to read have been championed over the years, often with mixed results.

The one method that has been tried and true for centuries – and, as you will learn in this podcast is scientifically proven to be effective for learning our language – is phonics.

In this episode, you'll hear from one of our kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Laurie Conrad, who has not only taught kindergarten for decades, but also earned her master's in education degree in reading and holds a PA Reading Specialist certificate.

If you have young children in preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary school, Mrs. Conrad's stories from the classroom and experience of how phonics works so well in growing kids' ability and confidence in reading will be enlightening and inspiring!

This season of Cultivate has been sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd. in Lancaster, PA, leading people to make better financial decision and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

In our last episode on Logic, you may remember our guests defining Logic as "the art and science of reasoning well." In this episode, we're continuing that trend and talking about, well, art and science!

At Veritas, one of our science teachers has a unique background and set of skills that, at first glance, may seem like it doesn't all match up. Amanda Crooks teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, and earth science...and also served as an art teacher for many years.

Science and art - two disciplines that aren't too often discussed together - merge beautifully in Amanda's classrooms. In this episode, Mr. Fischer talks with her about how her perspective on both of these fields helps her students see God's glory and enjoy learning in a whole new way.

Hear about:

• The shared elements of beauty, observation, and creativity in both fields art and science.
• Unique classroom activities that naturally bridge artistic flair and scientific discovery together.
• The joys of integrating faith with art and science education, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking among students while grounding them in Biblical truth.
• The importance of preparing students for the world beyond school by instilling virtue and fostering a holistic appreciation of God's creation through.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster, leading people to make better financial decisions, and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

Middle schoolers can be argumentative. And it can drive parents crazy. But they are blossoming into young adults who will need to communicate and sometimes argue ideas in the real world soon enough. How do we equip them with the tools to not only think through their own beliefs, but to critically process new ideas, and sift through arguments to find and promote TRUTH above all?

Enter the LOGIC phase of classical Christian education - the middle segment of our three-pronged Trivium. Right in the center of their education, students train their minds to know how to spot and construct sound, valid arguments and reason well, so that they can apply the facts they've learned and live as someone who listens and speaks well.

In this episode, we'll hear from our two Logic teachers at Veritas Academy - Stephen Darrenkamp (who also teaches Latin) and Adam Timmins (who also teaches Omnibus and Apologetics).

You'll listen in on a discussion covering:

• The role of logic in a student's education
• The integration with faith and reason
• How logic prepares students for rhetoric and effective communication
• Practical advice for parents of argumentative middle schoolers
• The broader implications of logic on students’ understanding of faith, culture, and morality.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster, PA,  leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.