Hosts Bill Gorman and Paul Brandes are joined by special guest Jeremy Mann, founder and head of The Field School, a diverse classical Christian school on the west side of Chicago. Together, they dive into what it means to cultivate wisdom and virtue in the next generation—not just through academics, but by shaping the whole person.

Jeremy Mann shares his journey from public school teacher to leader of a unique educational community that reserves half its seats for low-income families, embracing a mission shaped by faith and holistic classical learning. Drawing inspiration from Scripture—especially the Shema from Deuteronomy 6—the conversation explores how families, educators, and communities can weave meaningful spiritual practices into daily routines, both at school and at home.

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or simply passionate about passing on virtue to the future, this inspiring episode offers practical ideas, ancient wisdom, and encouragement for anyone seeking to nurture children in today’s world. Get ready for a dialogue about education, faith, and intentional living—right here on theFormed.life.

3 Main Takeaways:

Classical Education Is About Forming Wisdom and Virtue, Not Just Knowledge.
Jeremy Mann explains that the mission of the Field School is to cultivate wisdom and virtue in every child. This goes beyond just academic achievement or standardized test scores. Classical education is about developing the whole person, focusing on character, critical thinking, mastery of the fundamentals, and an enduring love of learning and curiosity.
Educational Models Are Important, But Parents Remain the Primary Disciplers.
The conversation made it clear that, regardless of whether kids are in public, private, classical, or homeschool settings, parents have a unique and irreplaceable role in shaping their children’s hearts and minds. Spiritual formation and character development happen best at home in daily rhythms, not just through institutional programs; when families are intentional about weaving biblical truth and spiritual practices into everyday life.
The Biblical Vision of Education Is Holistic and Community-Oriented.
Grounded in Deuteronomy 6, the discussion revolves around the idea of loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength—and passing that faith on to the next generation. Jeremy Mann shares practical examples from both the Field School and his own family: daily Scripture reading, memorization, prayer, music, and habits that create a shared, spiritual culture. The episode encourages listeners to build similar rhythms, with kids or in their own lives, and to see education as a community endeavor, not just the work of schools.

Resources:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: https://a.co/d/07KUyIQL
A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason: https://www.livingbookpress.com/product/a-philosophy-of-education/?srsltid=AfmBOoqx0zOQAB0bsGErnc8GhtQkqOeUuCKj0ZcNKXQLfQCbqxoHhmGt
New City Catechism – Timothy Keller: https://a.co/d/09C5NmGv
Apostles’ Creed – Historic Christian Creed
Athanasian Creed – Historic Christian Creed
A Student’s Prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas: https://mycatholicprayers.com/prayers/a-students-prayer-by-st-thomas-aquinas/

Timestamps:

00:00 Classical Education for All

04:14 "High Expectations, High Support"

07:59 "Classical Education: Old School Revival"

13:29 "Parent-Led Education and Choices"

15:59 Cultivating Wisdom Through Scripture

20:19 Holistic Faith in School Life

23:02 "Faith Lived Through Rhythms"

27:54 Faith through Community and Music

30:41 Family Bonding Over Simple Meals

33:08 Cabin Dreams & Entrepreneurial Passion

35:03 "Field School Insights Shared"