Ep. 120 - The Household Academy: Raising Your Children in the Liberal Arts with David Arias
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In this episode of The Magnus Podcast, host Joshua Mazarin sits down with David Arias, a senior fellow at the Albertus Magnus Institute and longtime advocate of Catholic liberal education, to discuss his family's journey of homeschooling 14 children within a classical, liberal arts framework. Arias shares how his wife’s education at Thomas Aquinas College and his own academic path—spanning philosophy, theology, and seminary teaching—shaped their family’s educational philosophy. He emphasizes that the goal of liberal education is not just academic achievement, but the formation of intellectual and moral virtues, especially in the context of faith. Drawing from decades of experience, Arias highlights practical strategies such as quiet time, group learning across age levels, and using storytelling and audio books to engage reluctant readers. He also reflects on the transformative power of great books, from Greek mythology to Tolkien and the Divine Comedy, in sparking a lifelong love of reading. The conversation concludes with a strong endorsement of AMI as a free, accessible resource for parents seeking to deepen their own education and better support their children’s classical learning journey.
Homeschooling is not just about academics—it’s a spiritual and communal project focused on forming virtues in the soul.
Quiet time and recess are essential for young learners, helping them regulate energy and focus during lessons.
Late readers often become voracious readers later; avoid pushing early reading and trust the natural development of each child.
Great books like The Odyssey, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Greek myths can captivate even the most restless children.
Parents don’t need to be experts—starting small with 15–20 minutes of daily reading can transform a family’s intellectual life.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Household Academy
Joshua Mazarin introduces the episode and welcomes David Arias, a senior fellow at the Albertus Magnus Institute and father of 14 homeschooled children, to discuss the philosophy and practice of raising children in the liberal arts.
David's Academic and Family Journey
Arias shares his academic background, including his time at Thomas Aquinas College (where he was a dropout), his graduate studies in philosophy and theology, and how his wife’s education at TAC became foundational for their homeschooling approach.
The Vision of Catholic Liberal Education
“The Catholic education aims at developing virtues in the soul. It's not about getting the piece of paper. It's not about knowing how to use AI well to help you write a paper or something like that. It's about actually building up these virtues within yourself.”
Practical Homeschooling Strategies
“We've kept that quiet time in the family during the school year. During the summer, it's different. But during the school year, we have that two hours of peace. And that's been a saving grace, I think, for everyone in the family.”
Reading, Rambunctiousness, and the Power of Story
“It's hard to predict. It's hard to predict. Yeah, I mean, I see that even in my own life. We didn't emphasize reading in my house pretty much at all. My parents, I try to get them to read books. You know, I've written a few books and I think they've read one of them now. It took a while.”
“The Catholic education aims at developing virtues in the soul. It's not about getting the piece of paper. It's not about knowing how to use AI well to help you write a paper or something like that. It's about actually building up these virtues within yourself.”
“We're following the natural progression here. This is what our seventh year so now it's time for us to move on past the basics.”
“Just start small, even spending 15-20 minutes a day reading a great book can be a great way to go about it.”
Host
Guest
David Arias
person
Joshua Mazarin
person
Thomas Aquinas College
organization
Albertus Magnus Institute
organization
Greek Myths
book
The Chronicles of Narnia
book
Thomas More College
organization
Our Lady Guadalupe Seminary
organization
The Hobbit
book
The Divine Comedy
book
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