Libsyn Directory

#22 How We Handle Academic and Behavioral Formation

Release Date: 09/17/2021

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

Dating back to ancient Greece, one definition of academy is an institute that holds and maintains standards. This is certainly a core principle of STMA and its founder/chairman, Mr. Robert Luddy. The challenge, as they say, is that your standards are what you allow and tolerate, and far too many schools have significantly lowered standards over recent decades with regard to behavior, dress, and academics. This seems to put STMA in an odd place locally via compare and contrast among student peers and parents, making us the supposedly "strict" school in the area - despite all the evidence to the...

#48 Developing the Necessary Skill of Anticipation In Young People

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

One of the unique and vital skills for successful people in all walks of life is the ability to anticipate. Unfortunately, it is a trait that is less and less common in young people today. Much of this stems from how the majority of schools educate children, but also how parents are raising their children. From math and science, to literature and philosophy, and even into sports, leadership, and business, the ability to anticipate the needs of others, what someone else is likely to do, or how things will change in the future, is vital. This becomes even more important as we prepare for the...

#47 Discerning Fit for Families and Students

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

Deacon Brad, Kelly Jackson, and Charles McCants discuss the types of families and students who see the best outcomes from the formation that STMA offers, as well as those families/students who may not find the school to be the best fit.

#46 Best School?

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

After a year hiatus, the STMA Podcast is back and will (pray God) be much more consistent this year. In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, Mr. Charles McCants, and Mrs. Kelly Jackson, think through how people could objectively discern "the best school" and make the argument that STMA is that school. Perhaps not the best school for every family or student, but still objectively excellent based on outcomes. The conversation also touches on how this matters for students in relation to the coming AI revolution.

#45 Zone-2 Your Life: Integrated Excellence with St. Teresa of the Andes and Servant of God Francisco Garcés

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

Zone-2 Your Life: Integrated Excellence with St. Teresa of the Andes and Servant of God Francisco Garcés Humanities Instructor Mr. Rob Kirkendall discusses how to pursue virtuous excellence in all domains given our human limitations and high spiritual calling. He looks to profound examples in the lives of a young Chilean Carmelite nun and an early Franciscan explorer and missionary to the American Southwest. More about : More about St. John Henry Newman's meditation,

#44 Classical Education: What It Is and Isn't (Part 2)

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, Mr. Charles McCants, and Mr. Rob Kirkendall continue discussing the idea of "Classical Education," and our collective reflections on what it is and isn't from years of experience. Part two of a two part conversation.

#43 Classical Education: What It Is and Isn't (Part 1)

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, Mr. Charles McCants, and Mr. Rob Kirkendall discuss the idea of "Classical Education," and our collective reflections on what it is and isn't from years of experience. Part one of a two part conversation.

#42 Purpose and Care

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

After a four month (unplanned) hiatus, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants dust off the podcast equipment and talk about Purpose and Care.

#41 Gratitude

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants discuss the virtue of gratitude.

#40 Five Attributes of Outstanding Students

St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants try something a little different. Before recording we each listed what we believe are five attributes of outstanding students - those all around 95th percentile students we've had the pleausre of working with over our careers in education and formation. During the episode we share our attributes and why we think they're important. Book mentioned in the podcast- .

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Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss how STMA handles academic and behavioral formation conversations.

Understanding that we should properly model relationships on the Holy Trinity, and by extension the family as a foundational human relationship, at STMA, academic and behavioral formation is not a bureaucratic or institutional process. We look to the faithful and functional family as the model for how we might address any challenges that arise during a student's time at STMA. This approach may be unique for some parents based on experiences at other schools, or their own experience in school. Our belief is that our human and spiritual formation should not be a matter of demerits, strikes, and detentions, but rather relational conversations ordered to best outcomes. We hope this episode will help to explain our approach to this aspect of student engagement.

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