Joshua Gibbs

Five Questions To Ask Every Teaching Candidate

“By now, there is little point asking teaching candidates to write a personal philosophy of education. Anyone who has spent ten minutes browsing classical school websites can cobble together an adequate series of statements about virtue, the “image of God,” and the seven liberal arts. Here are five better questions to ask.” -“Five Questions ToContinue reading “Five Questions To Ask Every Teaching Candidate”

Denis De Rougemont

“It is only “silly” questions that can enlighten us; for behind whatever seems obvious lurks something is not.” -Denis De Rougemont, Love in the Western World

Rock And Roll Dad, Part I

Billy Corgan: The killer in me is the killer in you. Billy Corgan’s Wife: Sure, I get that. The thing is, I still need you to tie the bread bag tight or the bread gets dry and the kids won’t eat it.

Sayings

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” -Tertullian “The fun outreach program is the seed of the church.” -Modern Tertullian

How The World Works

My kids: So-and-so said something disrespectful about a teacher at lunch today. Gibbs: I see. What is So-and-so’s last name? And then my opinion of So-and-so’s parents changes.

Does Handwriting Matter?

“Student: My handwriting is naturally messy. I can’t help it. It isn’t fair that you graded me down on this week’s essay simply because my handwriting was messy. I can’t help it. Besides, don’t my ideas matter more than my handwriting? Gibbs: What do you mean your handwriting is “naturally messy”? Student: No matter howContinue reading “Does Handwriting Matter?”

Sayings

When common sense is against the law, it is common sense to break the law.

How To Become A Famous Intellectual

Write something morally reprehensible. Unapologetically defend it for the next thirty years.

Names Of Things

I wish people would say “hard” or “difficult” instead of “challenging.” It’s impossible to tell what someone means when they say something is “challenging.” Eight times out of ten, “challenging” means, “I am trying to put a positive spin on something which is tearing me apart,” or, “I am too proud to say just howContinue reading “Names Of Things”

Filling A Void

I have begun work on my next writing project, which will be an 8000 word pamphlet which begins: Greetings. If you are reading this, it means your parents are considering whether or not they ought to enroll you in a classical Christian school. There are a number of directions things could go from here. AsContinue reading “Filling A Void”