The Furrows | Joyful Rigor: What a Classical Education Actually Feels Like w/ Dr. Kathleen O'Toole

Send us Fan MailDr. Kathleen O'Toole is the Associate VP for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College. However, she didn't arrive at classical education through a straight line. She grew up attending a good-but-not-classical school, survived a grueling private prep high school, found her footing at Hillsdale Academy, and finally experienced the full power of a classical curriculum at the University of Dallas. Today she leads Hillsdale's K–12 Schools office, helping communities around the country start and sustain classical schools. What's in This Episode: The difference between a good school and a classical school Joyful rigor vs. rigor for rigor's sakeThe moment classical education clickedWhat Hillsdale's K–12 office actually doesWhy K–12 matters for teachers; not just students Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 01:30 Growing Up at St. Mark's Episcopal School 07:30 The Power of Joyful Rigor 10:30 School Culture & Traditions That Stick 14:00 Classical Education at Home Before It Had a Name 16:00 Rigor Without Purpose 27:00 Moving to Michigan & Hillsdale Academy 35:00 The Startup School Experience 44:00 University of Dallas & the Core Curriculum 52:00 Finding a Calling: Political Philosophy 55:00 Teachers as Fellow Students 1:01:00 Joyful vs. Joyless Rigor: The Key Difference 1:05:00 Hillsdale's K-12 Office Today Resources:Hillsdale K–12 Schools  Arcadia Education Classical Learning Test Hosted by Ryan Klopak (Arcadia Education) and Alex Julian (CLT). The Furrows podcast features leaders in classical education who have been transformed by classical education. Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios