On Thursday, August 10, a group of fourteen parents and educators gathered at the home of Chesterton of Massachusetts supporter Nathalie Calvo for the first meeting of our community's Chesterton Book Club, where we discussed Chesterton’s vision of education as laid out in his essay, “What’s Wrong with the School?”. Below, Nathalie shares her reflections on Chesterton’s prescient diagnosis of the crisis in modern education and his proposed solution.
As we went around the room making introductions, I was filled with hope and encouragement that our plans of opening a Chesterton Academy in MA could indeed become a reality. We had gathered together on a Thursday evening to discuss Chesterton’s views on “What’s Wrong with the School?” His words written over a century ago still ring true today: we are faced with a modern educational system that pushes untested experiments in the classroom, subverts the role of the parent, and teaches a philosophy contrary to the Christian worldview. During our conversation, and benefiting from the insights of several educators in the room, we tackled important questions including the purpose of education, the proper relationship between parents and the school, and why we desire a Catholic education for our children.
In his essay, Chesterton diagnoses many of the problems of modern education. He begins by defining genuine education as “truth in a state of transmission” with the goal of “teaching [children] to be men [and women]” and “leading them into freedom,” and he holds that parents and educators have “the responsibility of affirming the truth of our human tradition and handing it on with a voice of authority.” Sadly, however, many schools have lost the truth and are instead chasing after the latest educational fads, submitting the child “to a system that is younger than himself.” In an authentic education, on the other hand, Chesterton argues that “it ought to be the oldest things that are taught to the youngest people; the assured and experienced truths that are put first to the baby.”
Another problem Chesterton identifies with today’s schools is the undermining of the role of parents as primary educators of their children. Chesterton points out that “the only persons who seem to have nothing to do with the education of the children are the parents.” Many of us resonated with this observation: during COVID parents finally had a window into what their children were being taught, and many had the courage to opt out of the public school system. Parents are recognizing that we must entrust our children to teachers who will collaborate with us in affirming the truth, not supersede us, or worse, work against us.
Finally, Chesterton points out that at the root of the crisis of modern education is a crisis of philosophy. He writes: “Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma than by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere.” The flags flying at many of our public schools, and even some of our Catholic schools, symbolize the philosophy that pursuing one’s personal “truth” is the path to happiness instead of pursuing the Truth. But in a genuine Catholic understanding, the philosophy we should be elevating for our children is best represented by the Crucifix, which embodies the true definition of what love is.
We are excited about bringing a Chesterton School to Massachusetts because it proposes to address the issues Chesterton identified and seeks to implement his solutions. Instead of subjecting children to the latest educational fads, Chesterton Schools use a classical curriculum to transmit the timeless precepts of what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful. Instead of taking Christ out of the classroom or segregating Him to a religion class, Chesterton Schools put Christ at the center as the true Common Core, and they integrate the faith throughout the curriculum. Parents in Chesterton schools can trust that their children’s teachers will support the faith that is being taught at home, as all teachers in Chesterton Schools take an oath of fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. And finally, by teaching that there is truth and that discovering it leads to genuine joy, Chesterton Schools help students understand their purpose and eternal end.
Want to read more reflections on our reading? Attendee and supporter Dan D’Innocenzo presents a theological exploration of Chesterton’s ideas on his blog in an essay entitled, “Chesterton, Calvinism, and Classical Education,” reflecting on Chesterton’s provocative claim that “education is violent. . . it is an interference with life and growth” and connecting Chesterton’s view of education with a Catholic understanding of salvation.
Thank you to everyone who came to our Book Club meeting! It was a tremendous event, and we are humbled and honored to be partnering with you all to bring this vision to life.
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