Basecamp Live

Today younger and younger aged children carry with them a one-eyed Cyclops screen monster, called a “smart phone” that can immediately connect a young person not only to their parents and positive resources, but in the swipe of a finger to some of the darkest and most addicting dangers ever presented in the history of the world to young people. There is good news, and some simple steps, you can take to help you and your child navigate the smart phone world. Our guest today is Chris McKenna….

How can you be sure that the school your child is attending is accredited and up to standards? And what about teachers - are they qualified and certified by some external agency to ensure a consistent excellent teaching environment for your child? Guest David Goodwin clears up the confusion surrounding accreditation and certification, and shares what parents need to know.

What questions should you be considering when evaluating colleges today? What are some of the myths and realities surrounding degrees and careers and where those lead? What kinds of skills should they learn that will really stick with them and push them toward leadership positions? College president Ben Merkle helps answer these questions for you and your family on this episode of BaseCamp Live.

Have you ever wondered why we do school as K-12? Why not 2-14? And college is 13th grade? Who made up all these rules and are they even right for your kids? Stay tuned for a thought provoking conversation on the topic...

Imagine being in graduate school and discovering a large portion of what you learned in high school and college was factually and historically wrong… and that you had been denied critical knowledge that would literally change how you see the world and want to raise your children. That is the story of my guest today, George Grant. What he found redirected his vision of what he wanted for his children, and is helpful for anyone raising up the next generation.

The word “beauty" has gotten a bad rap these days. Modern folks generally toss it aside as an irrelevant and impractical thing, relegated to something soft and impractical, best for little girls having tea parties. Even the phrase “Truth, Goodness and Beauty” rank orders beauty as a distant third. Steve Turley defends beauty as essential to how we and our children rightly see God and the world around them. He insists we must recover these transcendent values in order to prevent the dehumanizing tendency in modern education and renew the cultivation of virtue in our students.

Living and learning in the midst of the New York City is both exhilarating and profoundly challenging as the culture hits with full force. College President Greg Thornbury’s vision for his school and for students today is essential for anyone raising the next generation, no matter where you live.

It isn’t easy to raise a girl today with so many competing voices in our culture, not to mention in our Christian circles. If you are involved in raising a girl today, you don’t want to miss this interview with Bekah Merkle.

We’ve all wondered at some point…why do students have to wear uniforms? Does having to conform somehow damage their individuality, or does it actually enhance it? Yes, requiring uniforms does make life easier on school mornings, but is there more to it than that? What if the simple act of wearing a uniform leads to greater personality development, better leadership skills, and the joy of being a part of something bigger than themselves? Explore these ideas with us as Davies interviews Rod Gilbert, Headmaster for Regents School of Austin.

Calculus, computer programming, robotics, STEM classes are all assumed to be the “right choice” for being ready for the jobs of tomorrow. But Latin? That isn’t even a science! And wouldn’t Spanish or Mandarin Chinese be better for a language? Tim Griffith will surprise you with some of the reasons why Latin is essential for any student or adult today to be real world ready.

Tough as nails Colonel George Bristol has spent 38 years in intense combat missions as a United States Marine in Force Reconnaissance and Special Ops in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Balkans, and most recently in Benghazi. He has had a career of training up young soldiers to lead courageously into unmentionable dark corners of the world. A year ago he retired and set aside invitations with some of the top civilian and military organizations to join a small effort to raise kids to be respectful, responsible, resilient… what he learned and is doing now can impact your kids as well.

Propaganda is dangerous stuff. Terrorists and dictators use it but so do marketers, and even schools and universities. It is effective because it most often is subtle. Like fish in water, everyone from media and politicians to educational institutions are immersed in a culture with certain assumptions. Ben Brandon teaches in a K-12 classical Christian school as well as at a state university getting a bird's eye view of what students today are hearing and thinking. His effort to counter the cultural propaganda of the day is compelling and practical for those raising the next generation.

Across the nation more than 7,000 high school students drop out of school each day, but for those who do make it to graduation day, what is the result of more than 16,000 hours of school since Kindergarten? Students spend more time in school than in any other activity. Is it worth it? Hear from two soon-to-be graduates of a 23-year old classical Christian school on their experiences and perspectives. No two students are alike, but their discoveries are inspirational to anyone raising the next generation.

In April 2017, the March for Science rally in 600 cities around the world touted science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. In a world of technology and the pressure to stay competitive with Asian schools and businesses there is an increasing pressure on teaching science well. But is all science education the same? Is there a point where it is best to put down the science textbooks and actually become a better scientist, technologist and engineer in today’s competitive market?

Howe Whitman was a young dad with a five-year old. He had a prestigious Princeton diploma on the wall and had earned an MBA from The Wharton School (which US News and World Report ranks as the top business program in the country). The world was at his door and he had the education that most parents would envy for their child. What his son said to him at that early age redirected his life and forced him to rethink his life’s purpose and acknowledge the shortcomings of his own Ivy League education. Twelve years later, Howe is leading an organization in the shadow of Princeton University that is radically impacting the next generation of students whose heads and hearts are being shaped dramatically. Hear Howe’s story...

They quit sports teams when the pressure is on, too much homework leads to tears, a power outage and no internet are anxiety producing. Later in life they are prone to bounce from job to job and marriage to marriage and will likely end up in parents' basements... welcome to the “Tea Cup Generation.” What does it take to build 'grit' into young people today? This grit is needed to endure the unpleasant and difficult in order to be people of commitment and tenacity. We will discuss how to help students do hard things and to stand confidently in their faith and identity.

Bruce Flanagan spent four months in a prion in Hanoi after his humanitarian and ministry work nearly cost him his life. A few years later he was back as a businessman and gained influence and friends with leaders as high up as the prime minister. Five years ago, after he adopted two children he seriously had to rethink what he was doing and how he could best impact the next generation. His perspective on America and his recommendations for parents today is compelling and inspiring.

Why Your Child Needs A Classical Christian High School by BaseCamp Live

Does this describe you? Summer is coming - are you dreading it? Are your kids complaining all the time? Are you conflicted about being too strict or too loving? Is it easier just to give in rather than get your kids to do what you want? We've brought in family counselor Jim Mhoon to help us understand what is going on here! We'll also be discussing the New York bestseller "The Collapse of Parenting" by Dr. Leonard Sax. Sax has documented the dramatic decline in the achievement and psychological health of American children, and argues that rising levels of obesity, depression, and anxiety can all be traced to parents letting their kids call the shots. Part 3 of 3. Episode 11

Does this describe you? Summer is coming - are you dreading it? Are your kids complaining all the time? Are you conflicted about being too strict or too loving? Is it easier just to give in rather than get your kids to do what you want? We've brought in family counselor Jim Mhoon to help us understand what is going on here! We'll also be discussing the New York bestseller "The Collapse of Parenting" by Dr. Leonard Sax. Sax has documented the dramatic decline in the achievement and psychological health of American children, and argues that rising levels of obesity, depression, and anxiety can all be traced to parents letting their kids call the shots. Part 2 of 3. Episode 10