There are a few books that deal with Classical Education in the traditional sense. I thought that I would list them here. The most help I have gotten, though, is from theCirce website. The site is a bit confusing, but there is quite a bit of information about CE that it is worth wading through it all. Andrew Kern (the founder of the Circe Institute) wrote a book with Gene Veith entitled Classical Education. I have not read it but I would think this book would be well worth a read. On my ClassEd list, the topic of what exactly is CE came up this week. There were some really good answers but one response was that the Circe conference was the best forum for learning about CE. The Circe Institute hosts a yearly conference on CE. There are many well known CE advocates that speak at this conference like James Taylor, Martin Cothran, Cheryl Lowe and Laura Berquist, to name a few. The Circe Institute offers CD's of these conferences. I have decided that my big purchase this year for educating myself will be the 2006 conference tapes.
Anyway, on to the books. Here are some of the books that I am aware of that deal with CE.
Norms and Nobility-- David Hicks. This is the grandaddy of all CE books. This is the book that many reference to when they are discussing CE. This book is also a difficult read. I usually have to read a paragraph at a time to let it all sink into my brain. I am glad, though, that I do have it.
Climbing Parnassus-- Tracey Lee Simmons. This book is not a book on CE per se but rather it is a treatise on streamlining subjects and concentrating on the basics of a classical education. Mr. Simmons advocates focusing on languages (latin and greek) and everything else will fall into place. The Latin Centered Curriculum by Andrew Campbell takes the main ideas from CP and translates them into a curriculum. Campbell takes Simmons' book and advocates for studying a few subjects and books during the school year. I have found Campbell's book interesting. I like the idea of concentrating on a few subjects and giving your attention to them. LIkewise, Campbell does the same for books. He only recommends reading a few books (sometimes only one) for each subject but reading slowly and carefully to get all that you can get from that book.
The Trivium --Sister Miriam Joseph. This book discusses in great details the subjects of the Trivium--grammar, logic and rhetoric.
Wisdom and Eloquence --Robert Littlejohn. The author is the pincipal of a classical school in the States. I have not read this book but there a few things in it that have piqued my curiousity. The book recommends having a 12--K plan before you start teaching. In planning, we always start with the Kindergarten year and then work our way up. But Littlejohn suggests starting with the Gr. 12 year with our planning and work our way down. In this way, you have a better idea of what your goals are for your children.
Poetic Knowledge --James Taylor. This book isn't purely about Classical Education but I think it is a good read for those who are interested in it. Poetic knowledge is the basic knowledge or curiousity we all have regarding life and the world. This basic mode of inquiry is the basis of classical education.
The Seven Laws of Teaching --John MIlton Gregory. This book is recommended on the Circe site. I have heard this book recommended frequently when the topic of CE has come up. I have this book but I haven't read it yet. This book deals with the Law of Teaching, the Law of Language, the Law of the Lesson and the Law of Learning to name a few.
I am sure there are many more books that, if not deal with CE solely, touch on some aspect of it. These books, though, are the ones that I have read or can be found on my wishlist.