Join Michael Berndt, director of curriculum at the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, Allison Postell, assistant professor of Philosophy at Hillsdale College, Paul Rahe professor of history and Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee chair in the western heritage at Hillsdale College, and Joshua Gibbs, director of the classical teaching institute, for a panel on the classical virtue of ambition.

The four discuss whether the virtue of ambition can exist in a Christian world, ambition in the classical worldview, and the importance of developing excellence.

This panel was held at the Classical Education Forum in February, 2026.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Kayla Cruthers is the Head of School at Ivywood Classical Academy in Plymouth, Michigan. Join Scot Bertram as he and Kayla discuss why classical education is important to a community and how Hillsdale’s K-12 Education Office helped shape her understanding of and vision for an American Classical Education.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Paul Mittermeier, Upper School Humanities teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the importance of formal logic, why formal logic plays such an important role in classical education, and how formal logic helps student improve their reading comprehension.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Matthew Spalding to discuss his new book, The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence, and the importance of teaching American history properly. Matthew Spalding is vice president of Washington Operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Join John Peterson, lecturer in education and politics at Hillsdale College, Jonathan Gregg, assistant professor of education at Hillsdale College, Kevin Gary associate professor of education at Hillsdale College, and Ryan Hammill, executive director of the Ancient Language Institute, for a panel on David Hick's Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education.

The four discuss the degree with which classical education is consistent with democracy, the focus on forming students instead of empowering them, and the challenges that modernity poses to classical logic and rhetoric.

This panel was held at the Classical Education Forum in February 2026

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Tina Bolin, literacy coordinator at Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland, Idaho, and a literacy trainer with Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her journey from home school teacher to classical school teacher, the unique challenge of teaching teachers, and the joy that comes from seeing students learn to read.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Sonja Bindus, teacher support lead for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss teaching students how to appreciate art, learning from the artistic masters, and how to help students develop artistic skills.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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Joshua Villarreal, teacher support lead at Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the classical themes in the film Die Hard, the importance of education in forming character, and the differences between classical and progressive methods of education.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.