In recent years, the focus in education has increasingly shifted toward STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—as essential fields of study for preparing students for the modern workforce. While these disciplines are important, we view them through a different lens. We are not opposed to these fields.
STEM subjects provide incredible tools for investigating creation and for enhancing our quality of life. However, they do not teach us how to distinguish what is good, beautiful, and true, nor do they help us rightly order our affections. We believe education is fundamentally about soul formation, not job training. Therefore, while we acknowledge the importance of STEM, we do not prioritize it over our mission to cultivate virtuous leaders.
The Role of the Humanities in Understanding STEM: Will My Child Be Behind? 
While STEM fields offer great value and develop many useful skills, they do not develop all the skills necessary for a well-rounded individual. They do not inherently teach effective communication, cultural understanding, or verbal reasoning. Nor do they instill virtue or cultivate a love for beauty.
In a world increasingly driven by technology and scientific advancement, it is crucial to remember that education is not just about preparing students for a career, but about forming their character, shaping their souls, and preparing them for a life of virtue and purpose. A Classical Christian education provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to pursue a specialty in a STEM field. This approach is designed to develop a person by teaching students how to learn. By focusing on building strong cognitive abilities, students gain the skills needed to excel in a wide range of subjects, including STEM, not instead of STEM.
Christopher Perrin states the following: “Studying the liberal arts actually does impart a freedom of soul, mind, conscience, and spirit that makes men and women the best versions of themselves and thus, yes, better workers of all kinds—better scientists, engineers, and computer programmers. In fact, a liberally educated engineer (a rarity) appears today almost as a god. The engineers, who can ask the large questions, integrate knowledge, work across disciplines, and write and speak beautifully and persuasively, they are the engineers who start companies or rise up as division managers and CEOs.”
This idea is the central theme of Tony Wagner’s book, *The Global Achievement Gap*. Wagner’s research reveals that the skills most sought after by leaders in government, the military, and business are, in fact, the outcomes of a liberal arts education. His list of seven essential survival skills for today’s world reflects the benefits of this educational approach:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
- Agility and Adaptability
- Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
- Effective Oral and Written Communication
- Accessing and Analyzing Information
- Curiosity and Imagination
The liberal arts are not in opposition to STEM education; rather, they encompass a significant amount of mathematical and scientific learning. Moreover, with predictions suggesting that over 50 percent of the jobs in the next decade do not yet exist, we need to prepare students to be flexible, adaptable, and innovative—qualities that are the hallmarks of a classical education.
