Classical educators from across the Southeast gathered in Central Florida for an event hosted by Christ College in partnership with the Alcuin Fellowship and the Davenant Institute. The conference, titled Habits of the Heart, focused on the formative goal of classical education: teaching students to love the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in order to cultivate well-ordered loves.
In other words, teaching students to love the right things in the right ways.
The conference opened with Prof. Dale Stenberg, academic dean of Christ College and a teaching fellow with the Davenant Institute, who spoke about the importance of classical education for our present cultural moment. Other speakers included Dr. David Diener, an Alcuin Fellow and professor of education at Hillsdale College; Dr. Louis Markos, professor of English at Houston Christian University and author of From Plato to Christ; Dr. Michael Allen, academic dean and professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando; and Dr. Todd Bates, president and professor of humanities at Christ College.
Throughout the conference, speakers emphasized the beauty of the classical liberal arts while reinforcing the idea that classical education is more than a method of schooling—it is a way of life.
"I found the speakers brought me back to convictions and aspirations about what it means to be human and what it means to lead a life of worship of the living God," one participant said in reflection.
The conference also featured a headmasters panel in which experienced school leaders discussed both the joys and the challenges of classical education in today’s cultural environment.
A highlight of the event was the shared meals, which allowed participants to engage in meaningful conversations and form new friends.
For Christ College, the conference reflects a core vision of our academic program. The college’s Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Entrepreneurship draws deeply from the classical liberal arts tradition while seeking to form students not only intellectually, but also morally and spiritually.
Interested in experiencing Christ College? We offer campus visits throughout the semester in Satellite Beach. Reach out to info@christ-college.com to learn more
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