Classical schools teach kids NOT to think

 Classical Schools teach kids to be citizens, not to think.

Classical schools are not about individualizing the curriculum, not even for students with special needs.  Founders is a network of classical education schools that was founded in 2012.  There are 23 “classical” schools in this particular network but there are 275 “classical” schools throughout the country that are not part of a particular network.   Most of the schools are within the sunbelt.  Some folks will tell you that the term “classical” is a “dog whistle term" to attract conservative families with Christian nationalist identities anxious to place their children in schools that reflect early and mid-century values, pedagogy and curriculum”.  The Founding headmaster says they are working against the grain of a progressive utilitarian culture that is taking over public schools.  Kids are NOT supposed to evaluate or think about the content.  There is a great deal of classical knowledge, memorization and public speaking.  The staff speak with horror about schools where teachers meet regularly to discuss student test performance and how that performance can be improved with more individual attention and instruction.

Proponents eschew the notion that education must be utilitarian and designed to help kids get into college or even become employed.  Curriculum should be selected because it is “noble and suitable for a free person”.  The school selects its students by lottery but the kids are not economically privileged.  The median income is $74,000 slightly below the American average.  But the schools are in the south where median incomes are lower overall.   There is diversity in the population; 45% are white, 22% are Asian, 20% Hispanic yet only 7% Black in an area that has a high African American population.  Immigrant families are increasingly applying so that the lower grades are even more diverse.  The school is very clear, gay kids, trans students, even mildly rebellious or slightly weird may apply but they would be very unhappy if admitted. And no accommodations will be made for them.  There is one program which the administrators believe will lead to a well-educated and virtuous citizenry and there are no exceptions, not even to help the student get a job when formal schooling is done.  Some parents think that is just fine.