In early June, a book emerged as the #1 Bestseller in New York Times list: Battle for the American Mind, as soon as it was published. The significance of this book cannot be understated. The author is Pete Hegseth, a well-known Fox News anchor and a champion of classical, Christian education, and the co-author is David Goodwin, the president of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools, of which Veritas Classical Academy is a member.
The first significance of this book is that it clearly advocates the classical Christian education as the solution to the educational problem of America. And people are paying attention. Both Christians and non-Christians.
A second significance of this book is that it describes education as a spiritual war. In a nation so divided politically and culturally, this is a shocking word. Why such a divisive word, you might ask. Because it is the truth. We are in a spiritual war, especially in education. If you watched the documentary, “The Miseducation of America,” also hosted by Pete Hegseth with David Goodwin as the main speaker, you will see that it has always been a spiritual war. Many Christians forgot that it is a spiritual war. Of course, we are not talking about war of flesh and blood. The war begins within our own hearts.
A third significance of this book is that it comes out at the overturning of the Roe v Wade on June 24th, which is first and foremost a spiritual war. It is about protecting an eternal principle etched in our consciences, which has vast implications for shaping our culture.
Fourth, it takes classically trained or classically supportive groups of people to understand and expose over a hundred year of the core of the problem of American education: the progressive agenda to leave God and the Western Christian Paideia out of education. I wondered why this problem had not been exposed earlier by any Christian. Now I know. Christians were blind.
Fifth, Pete and David are very clear about this. Classical education, the way it has been understood and practiced for the most part, is synonymous with Christian education. Many educators and parents are still confused about this. The problem with the American education today is that we lost not only God, but also the classical liberal arts education, which is an essential part of the original conception of Christian education. This book is a call to restore God and the classical liberal arts education, known as the Classical Christian education. Classical education that is not integrated with Christian perspective has no depth. Christian education without classical education lacks breadth to make an impact in our culture. That’s why most “Christian education” lacks power.
Sixth, Pete and David are also clear about a more specific point. Classical Christian education has its focus and goal on shaping our love of God and his Objective Truth revealed in Christ. It is in learning about who God is in all his truth, goodness, and beauty, that awakens our reason, virtue, wonder and imagination. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Finally, this book is significant because the authors know exactly how the culture of an entire nation is changed. By the only educational system that intentionally seeks to change and shape its culture by training its students to understand and enjoy God (cultivation of wisdom) and to practice that vision in their culture with truth and humility (cultivation of virtue). “Fathers, bring up your children in the instruction and the training of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
Please buy and read the book and watch the documentary (available at nation.foxnews.com. You can use their free trial subscription). It will change your family, your descendants, and this nation. The book shows signs of great hope.