Classical Et Cetera

Classical Et Cetera Christmas Book Exchange

In this Christmas episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we trade our usual “What are you reading?” segment for a festive book exchange! The Core Four each brings a book to give, sparking conversation about classic stories, meaningful reading, and the traditions that shape the season. We recommend beloved Christmas books for children and adults, reflect on why great Christmas stories endure, and offer ideas for reading together as a family.
 
Christmas Book Exchange 2025 list:
The Mythmakers —John Hendrix (From Paul, To Martin)
West with the Night —Beryl Markham (From Martin, To Jessica)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (From Tanya, To Paul)
Hamnet —Maggie O'Farrell (From Jessica, To Tanya)

Is Memoria Press Catholic or Protestant?

Is Memoria Press Catholic or Protestant—and what does “ecumenical” really mean in Christian education?
 
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explain how _Mere Christianity_ guides our Christian Studies program and how we focus on the core beliefs shared by historic Christianity. We discuss the differences between "teaching" doctrine and "teaching about" doctrine, the role of the creeds, and how classical education approaches Scripture, church history, and doctrine at different stages of a student’s formation. This conversation offers clarity for parents and teachers seeking a thoughtful, faithful, and intellectually honest approach to Christian education—one that emphasizes unity without avoiding depth.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Against the Machine" Paul Kingsnorth (Martin)
"The Snow Walker" Farley Mowat (Martin)
"Tolstoy or Dostoevsky" George Steiner (Martin)
"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)
Frederick Douglas Biography (Dustin)

What Is a House System? How Classical Education Builds Leadership & Culture

What is a house system, and why do our classical schools use them? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore how the house system works at Highlands Latin School—where it came from, what it accomplishes, and why students love it. From leadership and service to school culture and community, we look at how houses shape students in meaningful, lasting ways. Whether you're part of a classical school, a homeschool community, or simply curious about this tradition, join the conversation and see why the house system has become such an important part of our classical education.
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Guardians of Tradition" Ruth Miller Elson (Martin)
"Without Precedent" Joel Richard Paul (Shawn)
"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Daniel)

Did Classical Education Cause the Enlightenment? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag

We’re back with another Mailbag episode! Did classical education actually cause the Enlightenment? How does one become a classical educator? When is the best time to start logic at home?
 
We’re also diving into co-ops, composition choices for younger students, art and music recommendations, and more! Whether you're homeschooling, teaching in a classical school, or simply curious about classical education, join us as we work through these thoughtful questions—and send us more at podcast@memoriapress.com.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Galahad and the Grail" Malcolm Guite (Martin)
"Christian Paideia" Brian Welter (Martin)
"Unnatural Death" Dorothy Sayers (Tanya)
"King Lear" William Shakespeare (Tanya)
"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)
"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Paul)

Are Fairy Tales Closer to Scripture Than We Think?

Fairy tales are far more than simple children’s stories. In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore why these tales endure, what they offer the moral imagination, and how they help both children and adults see the world with clarity and wonder. From questions about when to begin reading fairy tales to the connections they share with Scripture, we discuss why "demythologizing" (whether fairy tale or sacred text) risks losing the very truth they carry. Join us for a thoughtful classical and Christian look at stories that shape our soul.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Ian)
"Everything Sad Is Untrue" Daniel Nayeri (Ian)
"Housekeeping" Marilynne Robinson (Ian)
"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Leigh)
"Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist" Damian Ference (Leigh)
"Beauty and Imitation" Daniel Mclnerny (Vigen)
"Into the Light: Classical Education and Orthodox Christianity" David Hicks and Anthony Gilbert (Vigen)
"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)

Essential Christian Novels for Classical Readers

What are the best Christian novels to read? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we share a new list of books we think are especially worthwhile for Christian readers. These stories that have stayed with us, shaped our thinking, and resonated with our Christian beliefs. Whether you’ve read through our original list or you're simply looking for your next great book, this episode offers practical recommendations and helpful discussion!
 
*Read the original article from Martin Cothran—"Twelve Great Christian Novels"*
https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/twelve-great-christian-novels/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=196
 
*Watch our previous episode on "12 Great Christian Books You Should Read"*
https://youtu.be/j9vLO8-dfbc?si=gh9P0LSVzsFVIdAd?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=196
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)
"Green Dolphin Street" Elizabeth Goudge (Tanya)
"King Lear" William Shakespeare (Tanya)
"Northwest Angle" William Kent Krueger (Martin)
"Merlin's Isle" Malcom Guite (Martin)
"Truth Matters" Robert P. George & Cornel West (Martin)
 
*And here are titles that we talked about, this episode, adding on to the original "Twelve Great Christian Novels"*
"A Lesson Before Dying" Ernest J. Gaines"East of Eden" John Steinbeck"Fidelity" Wendell Berry"Hannah Coulter "Wendell Berry"I Heard the Owl Call My Name" Margaret Craven"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Brontë"Silence" Shūsaku Endō"The Gathering" Anne Enright"The Princess and the Goblin" George MacDonald"The Scarlet Letter" Nathaniel Hawthorne"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" Anne Brontë"To Kill a Mockingbird" Harper Lee
 
 

Should My Gifted Child Skip a Grade?

Every parent wants to do what’s best for their child—especially when that child seems ahead of the curve. But in a classical education, growth isn’t about racing forward; it’s about steady formation and broad mastery. In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, the panel discusses when a gifted child should skip a grade and why every stage of learning matters. They explore how to challenge bright students without rushing the basics, how maturity shapes readiness, and why true education values depth over speed. This is a thoughtful conversation for parents seeking wisdom, not hurry, in their child’s learning journey.
 
What We're Reading from This Episode: 
"The Ghost Keeper" Natalie Morrill (Tanya)
"Christian Paideia (Vol. I)" Brian Welter (Martin)
"Frankenstein" Wollstonecraft Shelley (Marcie)
"Anne of Green Gables" L.M. Montgomery (Marcie)
"The Good, the bad, and the Beautiful" Joseph Pearce (Marcie)

Can Classical Conversations & Memoria Press Work Together? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag

This week on Classical Et Cetera. it’s another Mailbag episode! We’re answering all your homeschool and classical education questions. Should you teach with drawings, if you can’t draw? How do you start a book club that actually works? How does Berean Builders fit with Memoria Press science programs? Can Classical Conversations and Memoria Press work together? Join us as we dig into these questions and more, and ask us more questions by emailing us at podcast@memoriapress.com.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Against The Machine" Paul Kingsnorth (Paul)
"Truth Matters" Robert P. George & Cornel West (Tanya)
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" Arthur Conan Doyle (Tanya)
"The Ghost Keeper" Natalie Morrill (Tanya)
"Cork O'Connor series" William Kent Krueger (Martin)
"The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion" Beth Brower (Jessica)