“What is classical Christian education?” sounds like an easy question, until you try to answer it.
In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Dr. David Diener, professor of education at Hillsdale College and executive director of the Alcuin Fellowship, to offer a clear, grounded explanation of what classical Christian education is and what it is not. They explore why this approach begins with the purpose of education, not just the methods, and how it aims to form students into a certain kind of human being, equipped to live well in this life and the next.
You will also hear how classical Christian schools differ from many modern models that treat education primarily as a transaction for career readiness, and why “integration” matters more than adding spiritual elements onto an otherwise secular framework.
🎧 Tune in to hear:
- Why the goals of education shape everything else, curriculum, culture, and classroom life
- How classical Christian education connects belief and practice so formation is not an afterthought
- Why “you have to see it” is often the best explanation, and what to look for when you visit a school
- How this approach prepares students for a rapidly changing world, including AI, by prioritizing thinking, communication, and wisdom
- What distinguishes a truly classical and truly Christian school beyond slogans and aesthetics
If you have ever struggled to explain classical Christian education to a neighbor, a grandparent, or even yourself, this conversation gives language for what many families sense: this is not nostalgia, it is a living tradition that forms students for faithfulness, clarity, and courage.
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Dr. David Diener is an Assistant Professor of Education at Hillsdale College and the Executive Director of the Alcuin Fellowship. Previously he spent fifteen years in K-12 private education, eleven of those in administration and eight as headmaster of classical Christian schools. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Classical Learning and the Board of Academic Advisors for the Classic Learning Test. He is a member of the National Council of Classical Educators and regularly provides consulting services and teacher training to classical schools. He is the author of Plato: The Great Philosopher-Educator and has published articles on Plato, Kierkegaard, and various topics in philosophy of education. He also serves as the series editor for Classical Academic Press’ series Giants in the History of Education and is an associate editor for the journal Principia: a Journal of Classical Education. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Ancient Languages from Wheaton College as well as an MA in Philosophy, an MS in History and Philosophy of Education, and a dual PhD in Philosophy and Philosophy of Education from Indiana University.
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