Each summer, when the grass is most green and the sky is most blue and the days are most warm; when the kids run wild in the backyards playing ball and diving into swimming pools; when it's time to keep the air conditioning on at all times and the lemonade chilled even in the mornings; when last school year's stresses are finally fading and the unfortunate worries of a new, approaching year arise (questions like which curriculum to use, how best to prepare new teachers, and just how much personal drive do I have anymore anyway) as they always do - it is at this time of the year when relaxation and rejuvenation and inspiration offer themselves to educators across the country.
No longer do you need to mourn the impending end of summer or dread the upcoming school year, for this summer we at the Circe Institute are hosting our annual conference on the purpose, practice, and promise of Christian Classical education. Whether you are a head of school or a home school parent, whether you are a high school humanities teacher or an elementary school teacher with a big heart, whether you are a veteran teacher or new to the front of the class room, you are invited to join the Circe Institute each summer as we, along with many of the leading scholars and educators of today, celebrate the beauty of classical education and strive further to learn how best to cultivate in our young people wisdom and virtue. Featuring an array of the most influential and intelligent minds in education today, this conference is a can't miss opportunity to more fully explore how best to nurture and guide your students, in the living room or the class room, and is an opportunity to gather with like minded educators who struggle with the same issues and who are asking the same questions as you.
View the conference program
View the poem for the Poetic Knowledge panel
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The conference took place: July 24-26, 2008
In: Houston, Texas
At: Our Savior Lutheran Church
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"The speakers are knowledgeable and inspiring
and I have gained many ideas I can put into practice immediately. In addition, the retreat format provides the opportunity to meet and benefit from the experiences of many gifted and committed teachers.
The discussions are stimulating and uplifting--
what an interesting group of people!”
Christine Houghton – home school mother, NJ
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2008 Plenary Speakers,
Workshop Leaders and Colloquy Leaders:
(click on the speakers' names to read their bios)
The following speakers were included in the program:
Dr. Vicki Murray: Senior Policy Fellow, Education Studies at the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy PRI)
Dr. Anthony Esolen: Professor of English at Providence College, translator of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Author: Ironies of Faith, The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature
Dr. Benjamin Lockerd: Professor of English and director of the English Master of Arts Program at Grand Valley State University,
Barbara Elliott, President of the Center for Renewal, Author: Street Saints: Renewing America’s Cities. Recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, 2001
Gleaves Whitney, Director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at the Center for the American Idea, Senior Fellow of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Studies.
Dr. Tom Behr, Resident Scholar and Director of Workshops and Seminars at the Center for the America Idea, as well as Lecturer in Western Civilization at University of Houston, and in the Great Books at University of Houston – Clear Lake.
Dr. Gene Edward Veith (Keynote Speaker), Patrick Henry College
Laura Berquist: Mother of Divine Grace School
Bryan Smith: St. Peter’s Classical School
Martin Cothran: Memoria Press
James Daniels: Westminster Academy, Memphis, TN
Andrew Kern: President of the CiRCE Institute
Dr. James Taylor, Great Books Program
Leah Lutz: CiRCE Institute Apprentice and head of home school co-op
Debbie Harris: CiRCE Institute consultant and teacher mentor
Maurice Velasquez: Business Advisor, Real World Leadership and Growth
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2008 Russell Kirk
Paideia Prize
Winner
Dr. Peter Sampo
Founder: Thomas More College
The
Circe conference is founded upon more than speeches and names. It is founded
upon the flow of ideas, the co-operation of dozens of like minded
individuals with a common goal, an over-riding desire to see this generation
of young people grow up to be a wise and virtuous generation. And it is a
celebration of those ideas, of that co-operation, and of those men and women
who have spent their lives and their energies directing others towards that
common end.
Therefore, the highlight of the conference occurs on the weekend's Friday
evening (this year, July 25th) at the Russell Kirk Paideia Prize Banquet
when the Circe Institute and the Center for the American Idea present the Russell Kirk Paideia Prize for Lifetime Contribution to Classical
Education to an educator of considerable merit and importance; an educator
who has helped further the ideas mentioned above. This year, Dr. Peter Sampo, President Emeritus and a founder of Thomas
More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire honored us with his
presence. The Banquet was a
beautiful, formal occasion us as we celebrated and
honored the life and work of Dr. Sampo. Click
here
to read more about Dr. Sampo.
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If, like the Circe Institute, you have a deep desire to see your young people - your students and your children - grow up to be part of a wise and virtuous generation; if, like the Circe Institute, you love Big Ideas and Great Discussion; and if, like the Circe Institute, you want to learn how better to nurture and guide your children, and not only that, but to celebrate your children and those ideas, than we encourage you to July in Houston as we Contemplate Humor and celebrate the beauty of Classical Christian Education. See you there!
I felt the approach this year [2006] was organized in a way
for new people to understand! I have a desire to go out and learn,
then to teach my students!
--Lisa Almond, Back Creek Christian Academy, Charlotte, NC
Warning! Warning! This conference may not be for you! Warning! Warning
CiRCE Institute conferences have always been known for their daring waywardness jocularity and banter, but we feel we should issue a caution: if you lack a sense of humor and insist on clinging to your stiff-necked ways, you had better either come or not come to this conference.
Warning! Warning! This conference may not be for you! Warning! Warning!
