Building Lives THAT
Inspire

This month I wanted to begin our conversation with a question, “how do we change culture?” Many of our peers may offer suggestions like politics and other such avenues. However, I would like to offer the proposition that one does it by narrative. Narrative shapes our opinions and beliefs. My friend and author S.D. Smith says, “I sincerely believe in the power of stories to shape our affections in a way nothing else can.”

Liberty Classical Academy, now in it’s eighteenth year of operation, is often complimented for its academic, spiritual, and Biblically strong impact our students demonstrate both while at Liberty and after they graduate. While we can quantify some of this, recently a study was conducted by the Cardus Foundation (a nonprofit that studies the comparative effects of public schools and all forms of non-public schools) in conjunction with Notre Dame and the ACCS (Association of Classical Christian Schools—of which we are a member) which helps isolate the differences. The results were published in The Good Soil Report and distributed last year. This report is the strongest indicator yet of the powerful nature of classical Christian education across many distinct categories.

Last summer, after an intense several months pivoting to online learning in the spring and immediately turning attention to fall reopening plans, our administrative staff was mentally exhausted from the constant stress. In July, I reached out to a few other school leaders regarding COVID plans, and they were feeling the same way.