Classical Innovation: Bridging Past Virtues and Future Possibilities

Within the time-honored tradition of Classical learning, one finds an abiding truth: the past is not merely a collection of bygone eras, but a wellspring from which the virtues of the present and future are drawn. At Cincinnati Classical Academy, we firmly hold that to embrace the best the past has to offer is to engage in the noble task of educating the whole person. As we prepare our new campus for the inaugural year of high school—expanding our offerings to include ninth grade in the 2025-26 school year, with ample seats available—we do so amid a culture often entranced by the immediacy of the present, frequently neglecting the profound wisdom embedded in our historical heritage.

In this context, one observes a paradox: a reluctance to confront the future, paralleled by an unwillingness to glean insight from the rich resources of the past. The term “Classical Innovation” aptly encapsulates our school’s mission—a fusion of enduring principles and forward thinking. Here, innovation is not the mere whims of novelty or a capricious pursuit of change devoid of substance; rather, it is the deliberate endeavor to connect true innovation to the timeless insights of our forebears.

While it is undeniable that not all that history has bequeathed us merits preservation, this discernment underscores the essential purpose of our historical studies: to uncover the best frameworks that promote human flourishing. Such a healthy engagement with the past cultivates the virtue of humility—one of the core virtues we hold dear at CLASSICAL. Humility begets an openness within our students, fostering a continual thirst for knowledge, a desire to learn from those who have traversed the path before them.

Furthermore, the liberal arts serve as the scaffolding upon which our students build an appreciation for wisdom and a witness to the transcendent ideals of truth, beauty, and goodness. Classical innovation becomes, therefore, a means of nurturing the practical wisdom that Aristotle and other luminaries so prolifically promote: living in the light of those who have gone before us.

Inextricably linked to this notion of classical innovation is our school’s motto: Scienta est libertas—Knowledge is Freedom. In an era where many individuals have unwittingly severed their ties with the past—be it through ignorance of authentic historical knowledge or a disconnection from the great literary works of yore—they risk becoming intellectual serfs, easily swayed by the latest socio-political fads.

The imperative of our time calls for men and women of discernment, thinkers endowed with the wisdom of the ages, who can rise to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving society. It is within this framework that our mission flourishes: “To develop the minds and nourish the hearts of our students through a content-rich curriculum in the classical liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in moral character and civic virtue.” Through the lens of tradition, we embrace innovation—not as a rejection of the past, but as an elevation of it, ensuring that our students not only inherit the wisdom of their predecessors but also carry it forth into the future.

Torches Up!