Classical education is experiencing a significant revival across America, particularly through charter schools like Brilla in the South Bronx. This educational approach focuses on traditional liberal arts, critical thinking, and moral development, all while emphasizing foundational Western texts and time-tested teaching methods. Classical schools offer a stark alternative to the progressive ideologies increasingly prevalent in public schools, such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender theory. Conservatives are leading the charge, seeing classical education as a return to academic rigor and values-based learning.
Charter schools like Brilla are breaking the stereotype that classical education is only for the elite or wealthy. Located in underserved communities, Brilla serves a diverse student body, including many English-language learners from Central America and West Africa. This challenges the narrative that classical education is exclusive to affluent, white populations, proving that students from all backgrounds can thrive under its disciplined and structured curriculum.
Prominent Republican leaders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, have embraced the movement. They view it as a way to combat what they believe is a growing progressive agenda in public schools and promote educational excellence. Their support has spurred the growth of classical charter schools across the country, positioning this movement as a powerful tool to preserve American values and liberties.
Critics, particularly from progressive circles, argue that classical education is elitist and exclusionary. Some, like education scholar Diane Ravitch, claim it seeks to reverse decades of social progress by focusing on Western civilization and traditional Christian values. However, the success of classical schools like Brilla, with its racially and economically diverse student population, challenges these criticisms. It demonstrates that classical education is not about exclusion but about providing a rigorous, values-based alternative to what many see as the failing public school system.
Ultimately, the rise of classical education is a testament to the growing dissatisfaction with public schools' embrace of progressive ideologies. Classical schools prioritize academic discipline, objective truth, and the moral development of students, creating a structured learning environment that focuses on character and citizenship. This movement, though controversial, continues to gain momentum as more parents seek an alternative that nurtures both the intellect and the spirit of their children.
The left may dismiss this as a "culture war," but for many, classical education represents a return to foundational principles that can guide the next generation toward success.
