Dorothy Sayers: Lost Tools of Learning

By: Classical Academic Press

Narrated by: Victoria Twigg

Length: 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1947, British scholar, playwright, and novelist Dorothy Sayers stood in an Oxford hall and delivered a speech that would become a catalyst of the current classical education movement.

The Lost Tools of Learning is a flagship address presenting the tools that were given to students in the Middle Ages via the trivium, the study of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. For perhaps the first time, these trivium subjects were applied by Sayers to students' developmental stages. She also advocates the integration of subjects, and explains that training students to learn on their own is the chief goal of education.

This essay, which has influenced subsequent classical educators, is now available as an audio recording with the feel of being in the hall hearing Ms. Sayers herself. Read by native Briton Victoria Twigg, and introduced by Dr. Christopher Perrin.

©2007 Classical Academic Press (P)2017 Classical Academic Press

Deeply enlightening

Dorothy Sayers created a message that comes through with clarity, detail, and absolute logic. This is an excellent guideline by which to use in educating children through our their entire life.

Foundation for European Education

Herein are the elements of education for those of European descent. Dorothy Sayers describes the required tools for developing a mind capable of fending off propaganda and of self-learning.

much needed

this insightful essay ought to be required learning for everyone. entertaining and informative. highly recommended.

Pertinent for today

Dorothy Sayers critique of education is even more pertinent for today than when it was first delivered in 1947. Our young people today are sent out into a world "unarmed, in a day when armor was never more so necessary. By teaching them to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word...They do not know what words mean; they do not know how to ward them off or blunt their edge or fling them back; they are prey to words in their emotions instead of being the masters of them in their intellects." We would do well to heed her warnings and implement her advice.

Brief Speech Concerned with Education's devolution

A wonderfully worded speech by playwright Dorothy Sayers She was brave to reveal the lost education structure that once defined free-thinking education system seen in early American education system. She speaks out against the Prussian model, meant to turn out obedient, uncritical stock of soldiers for a militaristic and imperialistic culture. She Dives into the core Trivium method and makes mention of the natural expansions into the Quadrivium. If you're not informed about this core issue in educating critically thinking individuals, then this is a great start down such a path.

Classic and formative

Dorothy Sayers, herself apparently not an educator, gets education in a way that popular education talking heads and thinkers don't. And maybe they're popular for exactly that reason...they have to come up with trendy, flashy, and NEW ideas and ways to solve the problem of educating children. But the classical method is sound, and if not perfect, certainly adequate to produce sensible, thoughtful, capable citizens and thinkers.
This is such a short essay that it should be required reading by all teachers.

Not new, but still very interesting.

This is a short discourse on why the main objective of all education is self-education, or independent learning. With the accelerated growth of knowledge since the date it was first delivered, its message about lifelong learning is perhaps more relevant now than ever.

Not crazy about the hokey "re-enactment" presentation.

Brilliant, insightful and witty; as relevant today as ever

Plutarch said “the mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” This speech demonstrates how this truth takes shape in our modern world. The failure of education to produce people to deal with our world turns to the subject of educating our children. Adults will find it helpful also.

Dorothy Sayers authored the Lord Peter Whimsey mysteries, translated Dante’s Divine Comedy, and was a Christian apologist. The breadth and depth of her learning, passionate at every turn, is astounding.

Enlightening!!

So much wonderful, thought provoking information in such a small package. This speech is packed with meaningful words.

Superficial, obsolete, and whiny.

Even if you sympathize with some of the aims of the “classical education” movement, as I do (I believe in a universal liberal arts education), this isn’t a compelling or interesting statement of the reasons for it. It’s very surface-level and makes little effort to defend its recommendations, giving the sense that these are arbitrary and driven by traditionalism rather than a coherent pedagogy. For better sources, read Mortimer J. Adler and others involved in promoting liberal arts education and “the great books” in the mid-20th century, and take a look at ED Hirsch’s work as well.