David Goodwin

President, the Association of Classical Christian Schools. NYT #1 Best Selling Author, Former Headmaster, The Ambrose School in Boise, Idaho.

[Jacob Allee @jacob_allee]

Government schools “train servants of the state economy. Western classical education trains citizens with the tools of knowledge and virtue to self govern.”

- @goodwind67 (Forging The American Mind)

[Jacob Allee @jacob_allee]

“[Classical Christian Education] is built on the idea that training a person to have good judgement is more important than teaching him or her the right response in every situation, because you can never predict every situation, but you can prepare a person who is ready to face any situation.”

- @goodwind67 (The Forging of the American Mind)

[David Goodwin @goodwind67]

"Strictly mathematics": Most of the source material I read on Astronomy in the medieval academy regarded signs and meaning from the heavens-- what we might regard as astrology. This was not strictly mathematical. "Isn't about... language" is false on its face. Neither grammar, nor dialectic, nor rhetoric can be distilled away from language. In fact, collectively, they are the arts of learning through language. As opposed, say, to natural history which seeks knowledge through observation, albeit buttressed by language. Of course, the Trivium arts are preparatory, but the word means "the three ways". Or, the three ways to knowledge/understanding, all presuming language as the pathway. Preparation for "higher philosophy and theology"-- yes, and natural/human history. This was the medieval's understanding of knowledge-- paths to knowledge through language. This, as opposed to poetic knowledge which is learned through direct experience. (Taylor). Your response does seem to lack a medieval appreciation of classical education-- a more fluid and beautiful vision of learning than modern analytical philosophy.

[David Goodwin @goodwind67]

@jacob_allee posted this on his excellent substack, Studying the Great Books. It's worth reposting. This is the opening quote from my new book "Forging the American Mind" https://t.co/qArXnTs7jm

[Kuiper Belt Productions @KuiperBelt117]

Alistair Begg RANTS about pastors growing beards and it is hilarious! 🤣🧔

[Jacob Allee @jacob_allee]

Super excited to read this! Thanks @goodwind67 for sending me an advanced copy! Everyone should have this book on their radar! It releases June 16 on Amazon (and elsewhere I’m sure).

[John Nantz @TheJohnNantz]

One of the unexpected blessings of homeschooling our daughter for a season, and spending so much time reading history has been discovering just how much education shapes culture.

Not merely what children know.

But how they learn to think.

That is one of the reasons I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing Forging the American Mind: A Year-by-Year Guide for Classical Christian Education by @goodwind67, with a foreword by @PeteHegseth. The book releases June 16.

For years, I’ve watched parents grow increasingly frustrated with an education system that seems more interested in producing ideological conformity than cultivating wisdom, virtue, and critical thinking. Whether one chooses public school, private school, homeschool, or some combination thereof, the underlying question remains the same:

What is the purpose of education?

Goodwin argues that education should be about far more than career preparation or test scores. It should be about forming the mind, developing character, and teaching students how to reason clearly in pursuit of truth.

As someone who came to appreciate the Great Books tradition later in life, I find this particularly compelling. The ability to read carefully, think critically, understand history, engage ideas, and discern truth from falsehood has never been more important than it is today.

The book also explores the tradition of Classical Christian Education—a movement that has grown rapidly across the country as parents seek alternatives grounded in a biblical worldview and the intellectual heritage of Western civilization.

Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, the questions Goodwin raises strike me as worthy of serious consideration.

What kind of citizens are we forming?

What kind of culture are we building?

And what happens when an entire generation is taught what to think rather than how to think?

I’ll have a full review after I’ve completed the book, but based on the premise alone, this looks like a timely and important contribution to the ongoing conversation about faith, education, culture, and the future of the American republic.

Publication date: June 16, 2026.

Thank you to Theresa Dooley for providing an advance review copy.

[Eric Metaxas @ericmetaxas]

We are a Christian nation. but not an "officially" Christian nation. We are MORE Christian than merely "officially" Christian, because out of Christian faith you get freedom -- including Religious Freedom. We don't FORCE our citizens to believe. We're not a theocracy.

[Turning Point Education @tpusaeducation]

The vision behind Turning Point Education began when Charlie Kirk recognized this simple truth: the fight for America’s future starts in the classroom long before college.

[James Anderson White @jamesawhiite]

It’s imperative that we revert to STANDARD, not Daylight time, for two reasons, one of which you may have never considered.

You know the first: solar noon is closest to 12 o’clock all year. That means an equal number of hours before and after noon each day.

This also means earlier sunrises which are significantly better for establishing a healthy circadian rhythm.

The second reason is that nearly ONE THIRD of US counties are in the wrong timezone.

A significant swath of the country isn’t only an artificial hour ahead because of daylight time… but TWO HOURS ahead of true solar time.

Year-round daylight time, especially without recalibrating time zones, would establish this error permanently, affecting millions of Americans.

We should be letting the Sun dictate the day the way God made it. Arbitrary, artificial tampering would be worse for us all.

Fix the time zones and affix standard time.

[Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth]

Two simple Truths:

Jesus Christ died for our sins.

America’s fallen died for our freedom.

May we live worthy.

[David Goodwin @goodwind67]

Special thanks to Chase Spears for this interview. And to Herzog for supporting his important work. What a great name for a war-fighting patriot!

[Herzog Foundation @HerzogEducation]

In this episode of Finding Your Spine, @DrChaseSpears sits down with @goodwind67, co-author of Battle for the American Mind and a leader in the classical Christian education movement.

They explore how education shapes the soul and why the West has shifted from a Christian paideia to a modern servile one. David shares his journey from homeschooling and military service to embracing classical Christian education, while Chase unpacks the concept of paideia as deep soul formation rather than mere academics. The conversation covers the historical roots of liberal arts, the progressive replacement of Christian formation with an “American paideia,” and the long-term cultural consequences visible today.

[David Goodwin @goodwind67]

@megbasham Love the retro reference. 80's still got it!
https://t.co/ZUhsVUMa23

[ThinkingWest @thinkingwest]

Nothing will shape your worldview as much as simply reading how humans from the past thought.

You realize very quickly that our time is a radical anomaly in human history.

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

From our country’s beginning, for as long as America has embodied freedom and exceptionalism, the soul of our nation has been rooted in the Christian faith.

Today we gather, as our forefathers did on this day centuries ago, to rededicate our nation to God.

[David Goodwin @goodwind67]

@elonmusk At 5:23 ish there's a clear AI glitch as the passengers leave the train through closed doors. It makes me wonder how much of this is even real. AI voice, of course, AI hostess, probably. AI video, yes. Is the station real?

[Turning Point Education @tpusaeducation]

A teacher in Chicago prayed over her students by name every day. One of those students went on to impact millions. His name was Charlie Kirk.

On this National Day of Prayer, we’re reminded of the importance and power of prayer—it can change lives!

[Lennox Kalifungwa @LennoxKal]

The Gospel and politics are not antithetical to one another.

[Fox News @FoxNews]

NEW: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth fires back at Dem Senator Jack Reed over his faith and leadership in the military:

"I am not ashamed of my faith in Jesus Christ. And if you want to shame me for it, go ahead."

“I am a believer, I’m quite open in that. Our department allows for a multitude of faiths, so I don't know what you're suggesting.”

"I've heard the likes of things that people like you suggest to try to smear my character and I won't give into it."