In a way, starting a classical school is like Buck’s journey in Jack London’s The Call of the Wild – leaving the known for the unknown, learning a new landscape and the laws of the land, and sacrificing for the good of self-mastery that yields freedom. CCA is actually more than two school-years old. More than a year prior to opening, Mr. Gibson set out with a group of like-minded parents and citizens to develop CCA’s mission and vision, then he called me. Together we worked in our roles to bring the first private non-chartered non-tax supported classical school to the greater Columbus community using the Hillsdale Program Guide as our curriculum source and what some would call a catch phrase, Teaching Knowledge, Forming Virtue. It’s more than a catch phrase though, it is the lens by which we made decisions, created culture, hired teachers, welcomed founding families, and implemented the Hillsdale model of an American Classical Education in year one. We moved into year two with confidence and grit using the same missional lens for decision making.
And much like Buck’s journey starting a classical school is paradoxically singular and plural – that is each person has to take on a role and be a part of the team while individually pulling their weight. This takes laying a foundation of humility, leadership, expertise, diligence, excellent implementation, and generous donations along with parents who come along side, catch the vision, and join in the efforts by entrusting their children to the good work before them – when it all comes together it like the best kind of living there is.
At one point in London’s The Call of the Wild, Buck chases after a rabbit with the team of sled dogs. In the moment Buck is so alive he doesn’t have to think about it – as he chases the rabbit, London writes that “there is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.” Buck, so fully alive doesn’t have to worry about survival, success, failure, time, or place – he is in action moving each muscle as it is intended to move, pursuing the target without need for checking his pulse. Some of us are created to do this work – to live this work.
Reflecting on these years, the sturdy and carefully laid foundation of CCA is set in the landscape of education in central Ohio. From an office building to classrooms, from no desks, pencil sharpeners, books, or students to a thriving community of scholars in front of quality teachers, industrious staff, and generous donors who give to ensure the foundations of good education get restored for future generations to come – what a journey! There is still much work to do, many more scholars to serve, and dollars to raise. But it is time to hand over the principalship and this blog to Miss Jordan Blackstone who takes over the helm of our school team for year three – as she takes the lead position in the academic side of CCA, come along side and live – work to pull your weight and thus carry the whole community toward the future with your encouragement, enrollment, and donations – you won’t regret a minute of the journey if you do.
