Paul Drake

Renewing Your Mind

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More threatening to classical Christian schools than “political correctness” is “cultural correctness,” the widely disseminated moral and religious assumptions that are often embedded in Christian parents and students, even those who are likely to come to classical Christian schools. What is “cultural correctness,” and how does it operate to undermine Christian institutions? How should we grapple with it?

Bob Benne

Robert Benne is the Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion Emeritus and a research associate in the Religion and Philosophy Department of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. He teaches Christian ethics for the online Lutheran Institute for Theology. In 1982, he founded the Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society, which was named in his honor in 2013. Prior to that, he was the Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department at Roanoke College for 18 years, as well as Professor of Church and Society at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago for 17 years. He is a native of Nebraska, a graduate of Midland University and has graduate degrees from the University of Chicago. He has lectured and written widely on the relationship between Christianity and culture. Titles include Good and Bad Ways to Think about Religion and Politics and Keeping the Soul in Christian Higher Education – A History of Roanoke College. He has been married to Joanna Carson Benne for 58 years and they have four children and eight grandchildren.

Paul Drake

Spiritual Thinking

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Carolyn Weber

An award-winning author and professor, Dr. Carolyn Weber holds an honors bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario and her master’s and doctorate degrees in Romantic literature from Oxford University. A Commonwealth Scholar, she was the first female dean of St. Peter’s College at Oxford University. After relocating to the States, Carolyn has been an associate professor at the University of San Francisco, Seattle University and Westmont College. She now teaches both at her alma mater, the University of Western Ontario, and at Heritage College and Seminary. Carolyn speaks regularly on the intersections of faith, literature and culture at campuses, churches and organizations, ranging from Billy Graham’s Cove to national and international academic and mainstream conferences. She has been a guest on numerous radio interviews, television shows and podcasts, such as 100 Huntley St., Context with Lorna Dueck, Family Life, Focus on the Family and Cardus. She teaches across a wide range of venues, from the classroom to retreats, workshops and invited lecture series. Her critically acclaimed memoirs Surprised by Oxford and Holy is the Day were both shortlisted for the Grace Irwin Prize, the largest award for Christian writing in Canada. Surprised by Oxford received this award in 2014. A poet, essayist and featured contributor to such publications as Faith Today, Carolyn also delights in writing children’s literature and participating actively in children’s education. Carolyn lives in her hometown of London, Canada, with her husband and four spirited children.

Paul Drake

Where Have All The Parents Gone?

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Keith McCurdy

Keith has worked with families, children, parents, and individuals for over 30 years in the field of mental health, working with more than 15,000 individuals and families. He received his Master of Arts and Education Specialist degrees from James Madison University. He is currently the President and CEO of Total Life Counseling, Inc., and is licensed in the state of Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Keith provides counseling and consulting services as well as a variety of workshops on improving parenting skills, building strong marriages, and maintaining healthy relationships. He has developed and regularly offers parenting retreats entitled “Raising Sturdy Kids” to help parents operate from the correct paradigm with their children and has extended and customized this powerful program for schools and students. For many years Keith has been a consultant and speaker nationally to businesses, churches, and schools both within and outside of the world of Classical Education. He previously served as Chairman of the Board at Faith Christian School, a Christian classical school in Roanoke, VA. Keith has been a regular contributor to The Roanoke Star with articles on children, parenting, and marriage. Keith has been featured on the Circe Institute’s podcast “The Commons," "BaseCamp Live," and "Crosspolitic" podcasts respectively.

Paul Drake

The Common Topics: Threads that Hold the Verbal Arts Together

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The verbal arts are related to one another, particularly through the means by which we teach them. Since the verbal arts are skills, not terminating subjects, they are taught throughout the curriculum. But as we focus on teaching them singularly, how can we do so in a way that most naturally leads to teaching the others? For instance, in the 2nd Grade, how can grammar be taught in such a way that naturally leads into and resonates with dialectic? Or, in 11th Grade, how can Rhetoric be taught in such a way that draws from the student’s competency of Grammar? The short answer is: The Common Topics. Join this session to learn why and how.

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is in his first year at Veritas, directing the Rhetoric curriculum and teaching theology. He has been a teacher and administrator in classical Christian schools for 15 years. Prior to joining Veritas, he was Director of Upper School at The Geneva School in Winter Park, Florida, and Head of Upper School at Westminster Academy in Memphis, Tennessee. Andrew’s academic work has focused primarily on Rhetoric, both in curriculum development and in teacher training. From 2008 to 2010, he hosted the Memphis Rhetoric Symposium, and since then he has been a consultant and teacher trainer for several schools. Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Memphis, a master’s degree in divinity from Samford University and master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Memphis. He and his wife, Keri, have four children, spanning in age from 7 to 17.