For Learning’s Sake with Headmaster Paul Q. Fisher

Polymath and Choir Director Aaron Zinter and Preschool Pro Brittany Zinter talk with Headmaster Paul Fisher about music, preschool, being early adopters at Capstone, and lessons learned from their marvelous Max.

Sarah Stanton and Kelley Peterson have an in-depth conversation with Headmaster Paul Fisher regarding lunch as ministry and how we can and should view food, the making of it, and serving it as much more than just getting fuel for our bodies!

5th Grade Teacher, Robert Brandau, speaks eloquently with Headmaster Paul Fisher about being a charitable historian, teaching in a classical school, masculinity, and Celtic music. . .among other topics.

Third grade teacher, mom, scrapbooker, and friend Roxanne Madson visits with Headmaster Paul Fisher about learning to teach classically, the early days of Capstone, processing the loss of a child with family, scrapbooking as spiritual formation, and the ecumenical challenge at Capstone.

Headmaster Paul Fisher's three young adult children join him for a conversation about life after graduating from classical Christian education and how their lives today reflect the way that education formed them for life lived through the lens of faith.

Founding Headmaster Paul Q. Fisher enjoys a conversation with Capstone's next Headmaster, Dr. William Rutherford, about family camping, growing up in the 70's and 80's, moving to Fargo, personal faith and ecumenism, and of course, classical Christian education and leading Capstone.

Luke Robson, the youngest and most classical member of Capstone's founding team, shares his educational origin story, his Hillsdale experience, and the gift he hoped to give the students of Fargo by bringing classical education to North Dakota. 

Theological philosopher and Capstone Classical Academy theology and Latin teacher, Anthony Gannaio, engages in a meandering conversation with Headmaster Paul Fisher about why theology matters, the power of beauty, a proper understanding of science, and what's good about postmodernity.

Jeremy Tate, Founder and CEO of The Classic Learning Test (CLT), examines the role of standardized testing in K-12 schools, why we should question the default ACT and SAT (College Board) regime, and how the Classic Learning Test answers the concerns of Christian and conservative Western parents, leaders, and educators who see misguided ideological agendas in the old guard of college entrance tests. 

Eric Cook, President of the Society for Classical Learning and national leader in the classical renewal sweeping America, speaks with Capstone Classical Academy headmaster, Paul Q. Fisher, about the origins of the renewal of classical education in America, the work of the society, of which Capstone is a member school, and what makes Capstone unique in the movement.

Paul Wilburn, Senior Director of Philanthropy Engagement for Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) and Capstone father, discusses our deep hopes for our children in classical education, the history and mission of FOCUS, and approaching the necessity of fundraising as mission work and ministry.

Courtney Young, Capstone librarian and alumna of Bethlehem College and Seminary, and Capstone Headmaster Paul Q. Fisher, explore the value of studying the history of ideas and how the classical school library supports the mission of a classical Christian school and is informed by the centrality of the development of ideas in the epic story of mankind.

Dr. Kathleen (Katy) O'Toole, Associate VP for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, speaks with Headmaster Paul Q. Fisher about classical education, the origin of the Hillsdale K-12 program, its role in developing excellence in classical schools nationally, and Capstone's ongoing relationship with Hillsdale. 

In this episode, homeschool mom and founder of Carmichael Classical Christian School in Jamestown, ND, discusses how reading a biography about Amy Carmichael, Christian missionary, inspired her to homeschool and then to start a classical Christian school. She explores in depth the mandate for Christian parents to take responsibility for their children's education. 

In a competitive marketplace, parents can be tempted to treat their children like walking resumés. We sometimes view pursuits like schooling, athletics, and the arts as forming our children's resumés rather than forming their souls. In this episode, Headmaster Paul Q. Fisher visits about this topic and others with Brady Nash, entrepreneur and Associate Head for Athletics at Capstone Classical Academy, and father to several Capstone students. 

In this episode, veteran English teacher and mother, Kaylie Young, explores the power of good books to shape the soul of their readers-particularly our children.

In this episode, we visit with Dan Holder, long-time educational leader and Assistant Headmaster of Capstone Classical Academy in Fargo, ND. Most of our conversation centers around the challenges of helping children to want to do the right thing.