Chad C. Ashby

Growing Old

“I wish I had the boy,” the old man said aloud. The old man wasn’t in the habit of speaking aloud before the boy left him. Now alone at sea, Santiago of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea mutters wistfully as his skiff is towed by a monstrous fish. As the hours while away, thisContinue reading “Growing Old”

A Few Principles for Effective Teaching

Successful teaching is not a plateau we reach but a lifelong climb across an ever-evolving landscape. Students graduate, culture shifts, knowledge expands, personal experiences bring new joys and sorrows. Along our winding pilgrimage, various factors will constantly shift—both within and without—but certain elements must remain constant if we and our students are going to flourishContinue reading “A Few Principles for Effective Teaching”

DOWN POURS (a poem)

Run– Plash along cuz faster means Less wet, Right? Damp– Down pours The blessing we Avoid, rue, Curse? Wet– Prayer heard Rain random and Regular. Why? Surprised? (photo credit)

What Is Christian Classical Education?

With classical schools popping up across the nation, it might be helpful to step back and ask a few foundational questions: Are “Christian” and “classical” basically synonymous? Is “classical” a methodology? a curriculum? a philosophy? All of the above? Does classical mean anything more than “memorization heavy education”? Recently I spent some time trying toContinue reading “What Is Christian Classical Education?”

The Wicked Lack Courage

Famous books often have famous opening sentences. Pride and Prejudice‘s iconic, ironic first line comes to mind. Even those who haven’t cracked the cover of Melville’s Moby-Dick know its three word intro: “Call me Ishmael.” Well-crafted first sentences manage to set the tone, pique the reader’s interest, and introduce major themes. They serve as aContinue reading “The Wicked Lack Courage”

BREAD (a poem)

Elements ancient fill the bowl Water, soil, wind, and fire Mix, clod, knead, and fold Left to rest till rising higher Water, grain, salt, and leaven Punched, deflated, fashioned mire Buried, burned in scorching oven Emerging, cracking, browned and blistered Broken, shared, crumb of heaven (photo credit)

Canterbury Tales: Stories for the Pilgrim Way

Medieval folks always did love a good pilgrimage. Grueling journeys had a way of proving the mettle of heroes, and far-flung reliquaries held forth a treasury of grace to any long-suffering commoner willing to tread the pilgrim way. The road to Jerusalem provided Richard I the way to earning his moniker Cœur de Lion–the Lionheart.Continue reading “Canterbury Tales: Stories for the Pilgrim Way”