There is a serious problem with the minds of young people today, and the demise of classical education is a direct cause. When classical education dies, so too do the ideas, visions, and values of classical Greece and Rome die with it. These ideas and values were what helped create Western civilization.

Ironically, these are the ideas that have come under scrutiny in our own universities. Very few people in America know about the origins of the West in ancient Greece.

Our citizens are sadly moving further and further away from the vital philosophical and ethical theories that are so necessary; especially if we want to understand and maintain the freedoms that we enjoy.

Our nation was built on the foundation of Greek wisdom, and it’s important for us to remember that.

Our very government was founded on Greek philosophies: Individual rights, a constitutional government, an open economy, open dissent, free scientific inquiry, civilian control over the military, separation of religion and government, and private property. Our ever-changing culture needs these things now more than ever.

We need to also remember that the Greeks insisted that these freedoms be monitored and controlled by civic responsibility, philanthropy, and an absolute world view.

The Greeks did not believe that life was rosy; instead, they saw it as momentary and tragic. Concepts like this along with self-criticism kept things in check.

The demise of classical education erases a complete way of looking at the world. Instead, the new lenses in which to look at the world consist of therapeutics, moral relativism, blind allegiance, and the adoration of material culture.

The Greeks gave us the means to change the physical and spiritual universe, either for good or ill. They also provided the means for us to control our most animalistic instincts in order to give toward the common good.

We have two choices: We can fight the demise of classical education, or we can stand by and hope that our children will struggle through the education Dark Age to bring forth a new Greek era.

If we want our children to thrive and drive off this threatening darkness, we need to find ways to teach our children to be independent thinkers who are thankful to the Greeks for what they modeled for Western civilization.