Unlocking Freedom Through a Liberal-Arts Education: Insights from Winston Brady – Salisbury Post

Winston Brady: Understanding True Freedom Through Education

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 23, 2025

Winston Brady

By Winston Brady

In America, we face a significant challenge: many of us don’t really understand what it means to be free. Many students and adults see freedom as doing whatever they want. This misconception starts in our schools and spills into everyday life. People lack the essential skills to think critically, write effectively, and truly enjoy learning.

Liberal arts education was created to address this. It isn’t just about subjects that don’t lead to specific careers, like history or literature. Rather, it aims to liberate individuals from ignorance and teach them how to think. The term “liberal” comes from the Latin word libertas, meaning “freedom.” So, these studies are designed to promote true liberty.

Historically, liberal arts education consisted of seven subjects. The first three—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—formed the trivium. The next four—astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, and music—made up the quadrivium. Together, they provided a well-rounded education, equipping students to tackle complex ideas and engage in meaningful activities, whether that be reading challenging texts or helping others.

In ancient times, to study liberal arts, one had to have the freedom and means to pursue education. Those who could read often were wealthy and educated. A poignant example comes from Frederick Douglass, who described in his autobiography how his masters kept him from learning to read, aiming to maintain control over him.

Aliberal arts education also prepares individuals to use their freedom wisely. It focuses on reading, writing, and speaking skills essential for effective communication. In the past, mastering logic and rhetoric was crucial for leadership, whether it be a general motivating troops or a senator rallying support for important causes. Unfortunately, in today’s world, many see liberal arts as unimportant to career success, often dismissing disciplines like history or literature as paths for those without clear career goals.

This narrow view of liberal arts, separating them from the concept of freedom, has harmed both students and educators. Academic disciplines exist in isolation, and this segregation limits the holistic education necessary for growth. For instance, plumbers may not learn philosophical concepts, leading to frustration outside of their trade, while those diving deep into academia may feel superior but miss out on practical wisdom.

In the early 1900s, as the Industrial Revolution transformed society, the emphasis shifted to skills deemed necessary for a technological world. The liberal arts, once central to education, faded away, overshadowed by a focus on job readiness. This shift led to a decline in teaching critical skills like reading and writing, replacing them with politically motivated curricula that don’t inspire meaningful learning.

Today, we are witnessing the consequences of a century of progressivism in education. However, it’s not too late to embrace a return to the foundational principles of education based on truth, goodness, and virtue. Fortunately, many educators across America are reviving classical liberal arts education. Their aim is to teach students to recognize what is good and to inspire others to pursue it as well.

As we look to the future, let us remember the importance of a well-rounded education that fosters genuine understanding and appreciation of freedom.

Winston Brady is the curriculum director at Thales Academy, a network of private classical schools in North Carolina, where he has taught humanities for the past 13 years.