For its 25th anniversary, the CCLE joins the Concordia University Wisconsin community to bring together classical Lutheran education supporters and supply them with the resources needed to teach the fundamentals.
The CCLE is an organization that began in 1999 to discuss classical Lutheran education. Today, they provide resources, accreditation, and certification for classical Lutheran schools and educators. CUW is proud to see them return to campus as they host this milestone event from July 15-18.
“It is a great honor to be back at CUW, where the CCLE held its second conference in 2000,” says Anna Martin, CCLE’s executive director. Over the years, the attendees have grown from less than a dozen people at the very first conference to hundreds of people, including over 50 speakers, educators, pastors, homeschoolers, and youth.
CUW faculty speaking at the conference include Dr. Angus Menuge, CUW chair and professor of Philosophy, as well as, Dr. Susan Mobley, professor of history. They are the directors of Concordia’s Bachelor of Arts in Classical Education program.
Dr. Menuge and his wife Vicki Menuge, along with Dr. Don Korte, former chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, have sponsored this event in loving memory of Dr. Mary Korte, late CUW professor of science, who was a passionate supporter of Lutheran Liberal Arts education.
“The CCLE would like to express our deep gratitude,” says Martin. She appreciates the support of the CUW community and looks forward to bringing the conference back to the campus in the future.
The fundamentals
Classical education teaches students how to learn and how to think, whereas traditional education teaches students what to learn. It is a return to a more traditional European education based on liberal arts, critical thinking, effective communication, and virtue.
“The classical education movement in the United States right now is just booming,” says Mobley. There are schools being established all over the country right now that fall into this classical education spectrum since it can be Christian (non-denominational), Lutheran, Catholic, Reformed or secular for instance.
Specifically, a classical Lutheran education combines the principles of a classical education with Lutheran theology and catechesis. Its emphasis is on truth, goodness, and beauty, and on having a joyful flourishing life in Christ. Students are encouraged to think and live within God’s calling for their lives.
The takeaway
“Jesus himself said “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) and Classical Lutheran Education emphasizes how the Gospel sets us free from sin in order to serve our neighbor.” – Dr. Angus Menuge
According to Menuge, the CCLE was one of the earliest movements that pushed school districts in many states to adapt a classical education. This was due to the perceived shortcomings of public schools and the need to have a stronger grounding in the fundamentals.
Menuge has attended several conferences over the years and has been involved with the CCLE since its inception. Both he and Mobley have received advice from them on developing the classical education program at CUW.
As a CCLE speaker, he chose to discuss, “Classical Pedagogy: Liberating the Mind,” which addresses the widespread concern that younger generations are not being taught how to think for themselves, but rather what to think so that they will acquiesce to governments, major corporations etc. “Classical liberal education was developed as education befitting the free citizen (rather than servile education, which was for slaves) who could make a compelling case in a democracy. Note that the word “liberal” in “liberal arts” has nothing directly to do with politics, but comes from the Latin libertas (freedom).”
Mobley is speaking on “Melanchthon’s Reframing of the Liberal Arts for Lutheran Education.” She has been involved with CCLE since the beginning of CUW’s classical education program (2016). By trade, she is a Reformation historian, but her research focuses on the higher education during the Renaissance and Reformation periods. Currently engaged in a CUW history project that focuses on what it means to be a Lutheran liberal arts institution, Mobley says, “it seemed appropriate when trying to define what Lutheran education is that I should start at its beginnings, with Melanchthon’s educational vision for the liberal arts.”
The vast array of conference topics covered extend from presentations dealing with ideas, themes, major texts, or influences, to more practical topics like classroom management or how to teach math.
Alumna Anna Hahn attended CUW from 2014 to 2018 graduating with a degree in Classical Lutheran Education—she was the first graduate of the program. She explains that the opportunity to learn real content in her classes from “excellent theology and philosophy professors,” has positively impacted her daily vocation as an elementary teacher at a classical Lutheran school in Wyoming.
Hahn will be speaking at the conference on how to set up good classroom management at the start of the school year. This session will begin with a theological foundation and move towards practical how-to skills.
“I’m thrilled that CUW is hosting the CCLE conference this year!” says Hahn. “It is a ripe opportunity for mutual learning and encouragement as we all strive to further excellent Lutheran education for Christ’s dear children.”
CUW expects to welcome about 500 attendees, including both adults and children. Some will be staying overnight in Chemnitz and Regents Halls, while others will be off-campus. There is youth programming available for three age groups of children: 3-5, 6-12, and 13-18. Babies up to age 2 will be with their caregivers.
To learn more about the CCLE conference and to access the schedule, click here.
Want in?
Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world. Our Christian classical education program comprises an interdisciplinary course of study in classical studies and teaching methods grounded in the liberal arts tradition with a strong foundation in the Lutheran heritage.