What does classical Christian education actually mean? In this episode of BaseCamp Live, host Davies Owens continues the ongoing series on classical Christian education with guest Lindsey Ralls, Upper School Head at Summit Christian Academy. Together, they explore a practical framework for understanding the heart behind classical Christian education, not simply as a method or curriculum model, but as a vision for forming flourishing human beings.
Lindsey shares how Summit Christian Academy developed a one-page framework to help parents, teachers, and students better understand the deeper purpose of classical Christian education. The conversation moves beyond the familiar language of the trivium and great books into topics like virtue, paideia, ordered affections, truth, goodness, beauty, and the intentional formation of students.
Davies and Lindsey also discuss how the classical movement has matured over the last 30 years, shifting from an emphasis on educational stages and methodology toward a richer focus on formation and discipleship. They unpack several key principles that shape Summit’s approach, including formation over information, imitation over innovation, the givenness of the universe, and helping students distinguish between truth and reality.
🎧 Tune in to hear:
- Why classical Christian education is about formation, not just information
- How schools can intentionally cultivate virtue and ordered affections
- The difference between truth and reality in today’s culture
- Why imitation and apprenticeship still matter in education
- Practical ways parents and teachers can create meaningful conversations
This episode offers practical encouragement for educators and parents alike, especially those seeking to cultivate thoughtful conversations, wise affections, and a deeper understanding of what it means to raise children to love what is true, good, and beautiful.
Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:
Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Lindsey Ralls is the Upper School Head at Summit Christian Academy in Yorktown, Virginia. She has experienced Classical Christian Education from a variety of perspectives including that of a student (class of 2005), a parent (mom to Charlotte and Lilly), a board member, and now an administrator. Lindsey has presented at SCL conferences, is a contributor to both the CiRCE institute and ZipCast and has a passion for making the idea of paideia formation in our children and students practical.
Connect with Lindsey: