From the Director

If you’re like me, you love teaching.  Nothing can compare to the satisfaction of helping students to grow in knowledge, understanding, and maturity.  And when they begin to share our enthusiasm for a subject we love, what more can we ask?

So I am pleased to introduce this issue of Beyond the Test, which is devoted to teaching, the most important activity of all our schools.  Our first feature article discusses the Socratic approach to leading classes.  We also have an article by Professor Dan Coupland of Hillsdale College in Michigan, which has a unique teacher training program that is classical in approach.  Dr. Coupland has written about the advantages this approach gives to new teachers and their students.  In our Featured School section, Dr. Michael Pennell presents his gem of a school, Prince of Peace, in South Carolina.  Finally, in our Resource section I am pleased to recommend the Teaching Company series. 

I am also excited to announce that we have opened registration for our 2009 Academic Retreat for Teachers to be held this July in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  A grant from the Our Sunday Visitor Foundation will allow us to double the number of participants.  But be warned – registrations have already begun to come in.  Don’t miss out!

In Christ,

Andrew Seeley, Ph.D.