#49 Holding Standards
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...
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#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...
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#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.
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#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.
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#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,
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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.
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#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- .
info_outlineIn response to a parent request, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss leadership formation for children.
Upon reflection, it seems that leadership really comes down to some very fundamental ideas: Authority, trust, and responsibility. Looking to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, as the ultimate leader, we understand that his authority was not his own, it was given to him by his Father in Heaven, who loves and trusts him with the responsibility of the salvation of the world - and leading souls to it perpetually. From this we can understand that parents, and by extension teachers, are given authority and responsibility over and for their children. In love, we then grant age appropriate authority and responsibility to our children over tasks that start small and grow over time. Chores, academic work, even free play time can be ways in which we form the attributes necessary in children to be good leaders as adults. We hope this conversation is as thought provoking for listeners as it was for us in thinking through what it means to form faithful and virtuous leaders.
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