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How To Obtain A True Classical Education | A Tractate On
How To Obtain A True Classical Education | A Tractate On Education: John Milton – HC Vol. 3 Ep14
#Obtain #True #Classical #Education #Tractate
“Rob Pirie – The Cause”
What constitutes the elements of a true gentlemanly education? In John Milton’s Tractate on Education, he breaks this topic down and discusses his idea of what a true classical education should look like. A healthy amount of studies, mixed in with some exercise and a well-balanced diet to keep…
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I was homeschooled, but not classically, and there are huge holes in my literary education in particular. (balanced I supposed by the aspects of homeschooling that are inherently more beneficial than traditional schooling, particularly in that I got a lot more of that practical life experience that you mentioned). My boys, however, are going to a classical school and I have taught at a classical school for the majority of my adult life (currently I teach music). I think there are inherent and unavoidable drawbacks in any school setting, and you alluded to them (being in the box for 12+years), even a classical one, but all the same, it's a huge improvement over what they would have otherwise and I'm so grateful to give them this opportunity. Classical education today is only a fraction of what Milton describes, but we certainly try! The arts, the Latin, the study of ancient cultures and their writings and their laws, the great works of literature throughout time… my boys are learning all of that and I'm so thankful! My goal is to read everything with my high school son (he's a freshman now) in his literature classes that I haven't yet read, so I can fill in those holes in my education. Plus, you've inspired me to read these Harvard classics. It will take me time, but I'm thinking this one might be a good place to start, as a classical educator!
Compared to current so called education, what you pointed out is light years beyond the system.
As someone who went through a classical education in europe. The value of knowing what has come before and why, especially through language, as greek gives you a perspective on latin, so where you once struggled in latin, you now struggle in greek, but understand latin and why you struggle in greek.
You learn a lot about the structure of grammar and it has given me a lot of knowledge and tools for uni and work. It still has a lot of value.
"The doing is just as important as the studying"
The Epictetus comes back around. Lol. It also reminds me of some of Montaignes sentiments on education. I have not read Locke's "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" but I suspect he shares some sentement with this as well.
John Adams is a good book. But, I would like to suggest John Quincy Adams by Unger. Milton ends the day with scripture? I start the day with scripture. My time seems more organized when I do it this way. My son, however, does end his day with scripture. Another book you might enjoy is Rush: Revolution, Madness, and the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father by Stephen Fried. Neuroscientist are just now starting to acknowledge that food affects our brains, for good or bad and I could go on and on about the topic of gluttony in many forms. Weapons of Mass Instruction is a good book. Homeschooling is amazing!
The great ideas by Mortimer Adler is gold for anyone interested in reading the Great Books
Glad I found this channel
Great video, I had to subscribe. I look forward to watching the entire catalog of your videos.
Where can I get these Harvard classics? I would like them on my bookshelf
Rob,
Thank you for posting your thoughts on Milton's Tractate on Education. I've yet to read it but your presentation has certainly piqued my interest. I'm also happy see that the book is influencing the way you go about educating your children. I myself homeschooled my son for a bit. He is special needs though, high-functioning autism, and a few years ago I found an appropriate school setting for him so he's there now. While he definitely needs specialized instruction, I still tutor him after school, focusing on the great books and the sciences.
At any rate, when you described how Tractate on Education is a letter Milton wrote to an acquaintance I couldn't help but think of John Locke's A New Method of Making Commonplace Books. It's a long letter Locke wrote to an acquaintance about how to properly build a commonplace book. If you don't know what a commonplace book is please see the attached link below. The type of reading you engage in would benefit greatly from keeping a commonplace book. I keep one and doing so, coupled with Adler and Van Doren's method of reading in How to Read a Book, I find that I retain much more information than my peers when I read a book.
Can't wait for the next video. Take care!
https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/reading/catalog/42-990033581460203941
Thanks again, good sir. I love these. I’m currently reading the Confessions of Augustine on the 5foot Bookshelf “History” track that’s pointed out in the Index (book 50?). I look forward to your comments on that. :). And done worry about those who say these things are out of touch and not workable in modern times. It isn’t for them anyway. :/
Phenomenal series keep these up.
I'm so happy to hear of the success of the channel! I think that speaks to your skills as a teacher coupled with the need and desire for the material you are covering. Onward and upward!
man that's a long video (and a good thing to watch for any of you scrolling the comments to verify that fact haha)
run businesses, lead armies, and rule empires… all in a day's work
"What did they have internally which I was lacking?"
I like how you switched from internal spirit or mentality to the physicality of taking apart an animal
"start the marathon off walking"
there were some people from the time that believed in universal education who might be interesting to read about – like Comenius
Do you have your kids read any strictly history books? or is it more like "A Street Through Time" (that shows a street over thousands of years)?
it seems like you might prefer if subjects were taught in a more broad and multidisciplinary way so you might already have books like that
more of a focus on the place between places and how to navigate through grey area with confidence while connecting the dots and enjoying it
homeschooling sounds like one heck of a commitment… but it makes sense if Louisiana is as bad at public education as most people say it is
do you do field trips to far away places like Lake Itasca so that the kids can see a river as it starts and ends? or do you focus more on how different cultures used deer? perhaps on how the deer affect the river? or maybe on how the river flows on land which was once at the bottom of the sea?
I guess that's why you showed a homeschooling site for a second haha
people will go crazy figuring out what to show first
do we talk about local food like catfish and then transition into greek mythology when they get excited about an animal sounding like two different animals? or does that come with the risk of me accidentally explaining what catfishing is?
Thanks!
1. I am finally caught up with this series and wow am I enjoying it!
2. Thank you for the amazing PNG coffee that I just received. Feeling very blessed!
3. I just bought my own copy of the HC series because of this channel. I have always enjoyed reading philosophy, theology, and classics and I hope to read along with you as I am able.
Thanks for all that you do.
Excellent video! I'm happy to see that your channel is growing.
I agree that much of Milton's advice is outdated. For example, unless you enjoy the process of learning a foreign language or want to speak with someone in their native tongue, I think studying foreign languages is a waste of time. We have tools that can translate text and speech for us. I recently read that even professional translators are losing their jobs to AI.
However, we have much evidence to support Milton's theory that "doing" is the best way of learning. I especially like his recommendation to allow children to try out different occupations. I wish I had that opportunity. I don't personally know anyone who did. We all seemed to take a shot in the dark and to hope for the best, which is far from ideal.
Love ending the day with the Bible. It indeed resets the mind.
Maybe it's just me, but I really enjoyed seeing the quotes on the actual paper of the books in the early videos. For me, for some reason, it appeals more to the imagination, or better reflects the eternity of wisdom.
Excellent! Excellent! Thank you.
Nice Video
Outstanding! And Milton's notions for a proper education seem more than relevant for today.
thank you for these videos on classical education.
personally, i think all these knowledge is more relevant than ever before. God wants us to be free and to be humbled and it is my belief that as we read the classic and the scriptures we learn to have a better relationship with our creator.
I appreciate your drive and willingness to provide this content, Thank you. May God shine His face upon you, bless you, and keep you. Continue the battle and journey, dear friend.
Wow! this is relevant more than ever, keep up on the great job!
You made a comment about nutrition and gluttony in your video. I would argue that we are less educated about nutrition and health than we were 75 years ago.
Take for instance the work by Robb Wolf. His discussions about food that is hyper palatable being engineered to leverage our biology against us, not to mention his work on ghrelin and leptin as key factors in that hijacking of our biology (on purpose). There's also the work of Belinda Fettke who has gone to war with the western dietetics establishment.
Having spent the last (nearly) 2 decades chaperoning my parents through dementia, our understanding of nutrition is abysmal. If you have any questions, just look at what every hospital from the top tier American, English, and Australian hospitals feed their diabetic and post cardiac surgery patients.
If you are uncertain how the medical industry works, remember this quote: "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis
This is an important and underrated channel. Keep up the great work!
I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for making them. I think you do a great job summarizing the texts you discuss in a easy to follow manner.
I agree that reading the biographies of the founders is so important. This series is beautiful. I’m sad that I can only like it once.
Unfortunately Milton misses the mark quite a bit in this work. His proposed reforms to education were a step toward the eventual public school chattel curriculum. His curriculum sounds lovely at a glance, but it turns the tried and true classical curriculum on its head, where a grounding in reasoning and philosophy — which should be a student’s tools in the other subjects — is done away with, and they are instead put last.
A powerful and relevant quote: “the way the youth are currently education leads them to hate the concept of learning…”
After taking a chance on an Amazon 3rd party seller, I received my Harvard Classics 22 volume Deluxe Edition published in 1969 for $140. They are in excellent condition and have the dark green cover with gold lettering.
I started book 1: Franklin, Woolman & Penn. My Classical Liberal Arts self-study endeavor begins.
Dorothy Sayers wrote an essay influenced by Milton's tract.
Also read about John Dewey and his opposition to classical education. He was a key player in creating the system we have now that favors conformity and obedience rather than thinking skills and the Great Conversation. His view on education became the prevailing view, That citizens should be prepared as workers Rather than individuals and thinkers.
What book would you like me to cover first?
“How to Read a Book” by Adler or “Weapons of Mass Instruction” by Gatto? Let me know down below!