115: Why Fathers Must Be Engaged in Their Kids' Education

Send us Fan MailMore info about Justin: https://cornerstoneclassicalschool.org/I sit down with my good friend Justin Drummonds, a headmaster of two classical Christian schools, to talk about something I think a lot of us dads have never really examined: our role in our children's education. We start by defining what education is actually for. Justin makes the case that up until the early 1900s, education wasn't split into "classical" versus everything else, it was just education, focused on cultivating wisdom and virtue and nourishing the soul on truth, goodness, and beauty. Somewhere along the way, modern education shifted the question from "what is this doing to my child" to "what will my child do with this," and Justin unpacks how that shift changed everything.From there, we get into the heart of the conversation: fatherhood. Justin opens up about his own dad, a hardworking, well-loved man who was physically present but emotionally and spiritually checked out, and how that shaped his conviction to be an intentional father instead of an absentee one, even when that absence is only emotional. We talk honestly about the pull every dad feels to be the hero with the big gesture, the Disney World trip, the paid-off house, instead of showing up for the twenty minutes a night that actually forms a child's soul. Justin shares real, humbling moments from his own home, including how easy it is for men to treat parenting as transactional, and why that mindset can quietly poison a father-child relationship.We close with something practical: what it actually looks like, moment by moment, to move toward your kids the way God moves toward us. Whether that's reading one chapter before bed, playing basketball for five minutes, or simply praying through Psalm 1 over your children, Justin's encouragement is that it's never too late to start. If you're a dad who's realizing you've been more disengaged than you'd like to admit, this conversation is for you. Give it a listen, and if it hits home, like, comment, subscribe, and share it with another guy who needs to hear it. Here's to making the next third of your life your best third.Chapters:00:00 – What Is Education Really For? 03:20 – How Modern Education Lost Its Way After 1900 06:49 – The Absentee Father: Physically Present, Emotionally Gone 10:09 – A Father's Story: Moving Toward Your Kids Like Jesus Moves Toward Us 13:32 – It's Never Too Late to Become an Intentional Father 16:58 – Nourishing the Soul: Education as Training for Suffering 20:14 – What Engaged Fatherhood Actually Looks Like (It's Messy) 23:36 – Why Dads Rush to Fix Instead of Nurture 27:02 – Trading the Hero Complex for Moment-by-Moment Faithfulness 30:23 – Practical Steps: How to Start Moving Toward Your Kids TodayWelcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on:- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age.- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress.- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships.- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections.- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook.Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third!Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)