Seeing and Loving the Good
We are continually inspired by the dedication of our faculty, and our focus remains firmly fixed on helping each student become a thoughtful, virtuous, and thriving individual. Our work is not simply about what students know, but who they are becoming.
We have been contemplating last week's powerful message from Mike Terry, our National Director of Classical Education, which truly captures our mission:
“We debate the difference between courage and foolishness. Our students can, when presented with these ideas, discern right and wrong. They know it in their hearts. Our job is to help them love the good so that they will do what is right every day. We don’t expect perfection. None of us can achieve that in this life. But when we love the good, we generally want it for ourselves and for others around us. This attitude is an essential mindset for living a happy life and building a society that will thrive.” (Read his full message here)
This ideal—helping your child love the good—is the very heart of our work. We want our students to not only recognize virtue when they read about it in a text but also aspire to embody it in their daily lives. We believe this is foundational for them to live a happy life and contribute positively to our society, starting right here in our classrooms and community. It is important to remember that our goal is not to demand perfection. As Mr. Terry notes, none of us can achieve that in this life. Instead, we are focused on fostering a continual striving for excellence—a constant growth in character and knowledge.
In every lesson, every conversation, and every moment, our teachers are actively striving to:
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Develop Virtue by thoughtfully integrating opportunities for students to practice new habits of virtue within their studies. Whether it’s exercising patience during a Socratic discussion or showing diligence in their writing, we are making character formation explicit.
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Model and Encourage by using all times of the school day—the transitions, the lunch breaks, the recess breaks, the corridors—as chances to model and encourage these good habits and responsible choices.
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Acknowledge the Good by actively recognizing and affirming moments of virtue when they emerge in your child's words and actions. We are pointing out the small choices that exemplify seeking the True, doing the Good, and loving the Beautiful.
By seeking, acknowledging, and nurturing the good we see in your children daily, we help them move beyond simply knowing right from wrong to genuinely loving what is right.
A Call to Partnership at Home
We invite you to join us in this effort. The greatest reinforcement of these principles happens when school and home speak the same language. Please take a moment this week to discuss "the Good" with your child. Ask them about the virtuous characters they are reading about, or simply take the time to notice and affirm a good habit you see them practicing at home—an act of kindness, perseverance, or honesty. Together, we can guide them toward a happy life of purpose and virtue.
We are privileged to partner with you in this noble endeavor of educating both the mind and the heart. Thank you for entrusting your child’s classical education to Heart of Ohio Classical Academy.
Angel Hennig
Headmaster
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