Democracy Dies in Darkness

This teaching method, backed by conservatives, is on the rise

Classical schools focus on Western content and American ideals. “We are going to honor the creation of our flag. We are going to honor George Washington,” one principal said.

10 min
An image of the Roman Colosseum hangs on the wall of a classroom at Pineapple Cove Classical Academy, a classical charter school in Palm Bay, Florida, on March 31. (Photos by Michelle Bruzzese/For The Washington Post)
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PALM BAY, Fla. — Seniors at Pineapple Cove Classical Academy draw upon the Bible and books from the Western canon to answer a quintessential question in their capstone project: What is the good life?

Children at the K-12 school learn Latin, engage in the Socratic method and write in cursive. The use of technology is rare. Students walk past paintings of historical scenes that include Betsy Ross sewing an American flag and down hallways lined with portraits of the Founding Fathers.

What readers are saying

The comments reflect a heated debate over the focus of classical education, particularly its emphasis on Western civilization and American ideals. Some commenters argue that this approach neglects diverse perspectives and promotes a narrow worldview, while others defend it as a... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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Lauren Lumpkin is a national reporter at The Washington Post covering K-12 education.@laurenmlumpkin
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