Dru Lattin

MS ELA teacher, pastor, and recovering language pedant. Oh, and a dad and husband.

Opinions my own; typos belong to AI. Loves Jesus. Hosts @thatjesuspod

[Cal @wyattyhalpert]

They’re giving He-Man pronouns

[Susan Wise Bauer @SusanWiseBauer]

There are three massive problems with this opinion piece, currently being reposted by the U. S. Department of Education.

No, four massive problems.

No, more than that. Among the problems...

I’ll just list the first four.

1) The assertion that “the classical education industry would exceed a $10 billion valuation by 2035” is presented as justification for paying attention to the model of classical education. Excuse me as I gag over the phrase “classical education industry.” Any real teacher can tell you that “industry,” when introduced into the educational enterprise, is an immediate red flag for any actual useful scheme of education.

2) Classical education builds academic skills. Nowhere in Mr. Gibbs’ “definition” of classical education does he address the need to teach mathematics, grammar, critical reading skills, essay structure. Yes, I get that he’s not outlining a whole curricula here, but his “definition” is laser-focused on “the books, music, paintings, and beliefs that have been handed down as cultural heirlooms across the centuries” and the need to “respect and love…cultural inheritance.” And he seems entirely focused on classical education as a way to build virtue. (See my next point.) Of course virtue should be a product of a good education, but “spiritual labor”, particularly “spiritual labor” that primarily has to do with appreciating our eighteenth century ancestors, is not actually the focus of classical education. Classical education teaches students to THINK. This point seems to be missing.

3) On the subject of virtue, Mr. Gibbs seems unaware of at least two of the four cardinal virtues ACTUALLY taught by Aquinas: those would be temperance, prudence (practical wisdom, the ability to discern the proper course of action in a complicated and ambiguous situation), courage (fortitude), and justice (acting with righteousness towards others, particularly those who are less powerful and privileged than ourselves). Those virtues, by the way, are not primarily developed by emulating “great men and women who have embodied them in the past,” because our ancestors were bound by their own assumptions and cultural limitations. Those virtues are transcendent and, in the Christian tradition, embodied by Christ. See Plato and the Gospel according to John.

4) This was just reposted by THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (or what’s left of it). Mr. Gibb’s “Classical Teaching Institute” resides at the Ambrose School, which is a private Christian school accredited by the Association of Classical Christian Schools (cue Doug Wilson), with the motto “Take Every Thought Captive to Christ.”

I’m not sure how many times I have to repeat “I am a Christian” when I post this sort of criticism, so please take it as asserted. I have no problem with Christianity. I have a MASSIVE problem with the DoE, which has the responsibility (theoretically) to provide educational opportunities to every child in this country, exalting a particular kind of Christian education—that would be Reformed and Protestant—as a model for all of those children. That is not the purpose of the DoE.

If the DoE now posts a link to an opinion piece by a teacher at Gold Och Academy or Scheck Hillel Community School or the Hindu American Temple School or Fordham Preparatory School or Loyala Academy or Stanford Live, I’ll consider withdrawing this objection.

I could go on. But let the games begin.
https://t.co/5HC7XM4sV8

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

I lowkey agree with this. If for some reason, you’re opposed to feminism, but not ready to go full-on patriarchy, complementarianism is nice window dressing to look okay.

[Neil Shenvi @NeilShenvi]

Complementarianism is a third way between feminism and patriarchy.

I will not be taking further questions.

[Josiah Hawthorne @JosiahHawthorne]

"Charlie was more than an activist. Charlie was a modern-day disciple, who preached the greatness of America not just around our land, but around the globe."
--Sergio Gor

A modern day *DISCIPLE*... who preached America.

[Josiah Hawthorne @JosiahHawthorne]

"forgiveness fad"

So yeah -- I wonder how off-script or unexpected that part was, because it sure seems to be showing the cracks between the MAGAs with actual extensive Christian backgrounds of one kind or another and those whose faith is largely performative or cultural.

[Josiah Hawthorne @JosiahHawthorne]

It's very strange to hear the Vice President of a powerful earthly nation quoting Jesus saying "But take heart, I have overcome the world," and using that to encourage people to say "For Charlie, we will rebuild America to greatness!"

America is part of the world, brother.

[Fr. Joash P. Thomas @JoashPThomas]

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to repent, unlearn the ways of Empire and re-learn at the feet of my marginalized neighbours.

But he never got around to doing the same. That opportunity has forever been taken away.

And that is perhaps the biggest travesty of this. 2/2

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

@WalterRothbard Okay but this is non-canonical. I don’t do multiverse of with the Nativity.

[Dave DeCamp @DecampDave]

Who wants to start a Catholic, non-Zionist version of the Babylon Bee with me?

[Marshall Power Locke @MarshallLocke]

@reachjulieroys @greglaurie Chuck Colson was astonished at how susceptible clergy were to being enthralled and deceived by proximity to power.

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

@reachjulieroys @lucht_kimb44906 @greglaurie I think we should definitely start a conspiracy about it. 😆😆😆

And regardless, fully agree about the dangers of mixing Jesus with political power.

[Josiah Hawthorne @JosiahHawthorne]

Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the Olive Tree, ‘Be our king!’

But the Olive Tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and men, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

This is the problem with most hagiography - those who do it have agendas, stories to tell about others to further their purposes.

[Mike Winger @MikeWingerii]

@kingdom_awaken It seems to me that by mythologizing these people of the past leaders who strive to stand in their trajectory are actually mythologizing themselves.

[Mike Miller @iliketopreach]

I am SBC. I believe women should not be pastors. I also believe we have a much bigger problem in the SBC, namely male pastors who fail to meet the biblical qualifications.

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

Why does this sound like the antisemitism of pre-Hitler Germany?

[Megan Basham @megbasham]

This is a tragedy. And if you as an American can’t see this, you have no love for the culture and ideology that brought forth this nation and Christendom more broadly.

[Jacob Denhollander @JJ_Denhollander]

I'm not saying Trump is a secret agent of Putin. But I am wondering what more he would be doing to advance the Russian position and propaganda if he was?

[David🔺☮ @WalterRothbard]

Call me crazy, but sex abuse, authoritarianism, strife, and people hurting each other are the most obvious signs.

In fact, the works of the flesh are obvious and listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

@debbaxara @JosiahHawthorne For me, it was the foundational idea that it’s normal and unavoidable for men to objectify women. It was the dilemma of “this is so normal” and “this is so evil”, all centered around the idea that women were “eye traps” rather than humans.

[Dru Lattin @Druseth]

@debbaxara @JosiahHawthorne Thanks for sharing. The edition of EMB I read was problematic, but I’m glad it helped you? Perhaps they updated some of it. Could you share a bit of what made it helpful? Thanks!