We live in a world driven by technological innovation and rapid change, and a question is often asked during tours of campuses at Great Hearts, “Is classical education still relevant?” For Anthony Sciubba, Headmaster of Archway Scottsdale [1], the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
He recently addressed this question in a video message, tackling one of the most common critiques of classical education. “The strongest argument I think against classical education is that it prepares students for a world that does not exist,” he said. Skeptics often dismiss the classical model as outdated, with its focus on ancient languages, rhetoric, and texts that are far removed from the modern workplace. But Sciubba came to a surprising conclusion, stating, “I realized both that it was true and that that is actually a good thing.”
Sciubba draws a clear distinction between two visions of education. One is utilitarian, with students trained narrowly for a job market that may look entirely different by the time they graduate. “If we are in fact preparing our students for the job market of 2025,” Sciubba warned, “then by the time our K–12 students graduate in 2035 to 2042, they will be hopelessly outmoded and outplayed.”
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The other vision of education, one that is rooted in classical education, favors formation over function. “Education is more than the transfer of information. It’s actually the formation of souls,” he said. “The goal is actually to teach them how to think, to give them method, and to expose them to the best of what the Western world has to offer.”
Jerilyn Olsen, Chief People Officer for Great Hearts, agrees, pointing out the importance of grounding students in what is lasting and meaningful. “Rather than primarily chasing after something that constantly changes, we would do well to hitch our goals to that which is unchanging and timeless,” she said. “We should hope to build men and women who can discern what is good among the chaos of what is expedient.”
This model of classical education that is embraced by Great Hearts goes beyond career readiness. “We are also not just preparing our students to be successful in their young careers,” Olsen added, “but setting them on a lifelong journey of learning and the pursuit of virtue.”
As both an educational leader and a parent, Olsen brings a personal perspective to the conversation. “As a mom of three adolescents, I know that my children will soon surpass my knowledge of and proficiency with technology,” she reflected. “What I wish most for them is that they will build the capacity to love people well in any environment where they may find themselves.”
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For both Sciubba and Olsen, the classical model isn’t about rejecting the modern world. It’s about preparing students to lead and thrive in it with wisdom, discernment, and humanity.
“There are many excellent models of education that are out there,” Sciubba said. “I happen to prefer the one that prepares students for a world that does not exist yet.”
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