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For those who love history or who WANT to love it, The Classical Historian is a place to find inspiration, knowledge, and the tools required to share it with others. Even though learning history may be challenging, here you find encouragement and inspiration to share with the youth great lessons from our past - the struggles, failures, and victories on the path of freedom. For those who don't yet love history, it is because they have never learned it properly before.
In Prague
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Blacksmith's shop at Sutter's Mill
Teaching the Classical Historian method to youth is the most rewarding educational experience we have ever had. Come and join us on this great journey as we help shape the future through the kids we care about the most, and in so doing, we learn about ourselves. As Robert Penn Warren wrote, "History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
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What is the Classical Historian?
Paul Revere's Statue
In 1997, in John De Gree’s first year teaching in California, he experienced some of the problems in history education in America. History books were boring. Students weren't challenged to make connections. There was little or no understanding of Western Civilization or the path of liberty. Students were used to tuning out. This inspired John to create his first supplemental book. It taught the tools of the historian and the Socratic discussion in history. After bumping heads with the American public-school educational system, however, the De Gree family entered into the home school world, first with their oldest two, and then over the years, followed by their next five kids.
John began to teach his own children and their friends history. Then, John asked all of the moms of his students how he could better serve them. They all said the same thing, “Make a DVD curriculum that teaches your Socratic discussion method and go to Ohio to teach others.”
John began to teach his own children and their friends history. Then, John asked all of the moms of his students how he could better serve them. They all said the same thing, “Make a DVD curriculum that teaches your Socratic discussion method and go to Ohio to teach others.”
A Family Trip to the Rockies
In 2011, The Classical Historian started with supplemental Socratic discussion curriculum and games that taught history. However, John was soon asked to write history books, as well. There was a need for good history books that were factual, interesting, and explained events and connections well, showing the course of Western civilization and America’s role in it. The Classical Historian then expanded into writing and publishing history books and creating complete history curriculum.
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Before John set off “for Ohio,” his wife Zdenka insisted that the new company should have beautiful and fun games that taught history. She noted how children respond to beauty and games and that none existed to teach history. Because of her inspiration and work, the Go Fish games and Memory games were born.
Boston - Samuel Adam's Statue
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A Family Hike to Thousand Isles Lake
Who Are We?
Family Photo 2020 on a Windy Day
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John De Gree was born and raised in sunny Southern California, and still bears the scars from that experience. He studied at the University of Redlands, CA., then in Austria and Germany in the early 1990s, later earning an M.A. in Humanities. While on an excursion to Prague, he met Czechs who were Zdenka’s friends. Zdenka was asked if she wanted to meet some Americans, but she chose to go hiking and climbing instead of meeting her future husband! Zdenka De Gree was born and raised in Communist Czechoslovakia. Her first-hand knowledge of oppression and radical Socialism greatly influences all of our materials. After the Wall fell, she came to California as an Au Pair. Those friends of Zdenka that John had met arranged for the two to meet. 29 years later, they have 7 children, a grandchild on her way, and have four kids living on another continent.
At The Classical Historian, John focuses on new curriculum, speaking, customer service, conventions, and logistics. Zdenka is in charge of everything technical, is the visionary for all the games, and directs the business. |
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Adam and Tessa De Gree are the online teachers. Both from Southern California, they now reside in Adam’s birthplace, Prague, The Czech Republic. Adam and Tessa hold an M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from CEVRO, a Central European university. Adam and Tessa love learning about philosophy, history, culture, and enjoy the Prague lifestyle. They are expecting their first child in May, 2021.
Jessica runs the podcast My Life Under Communism. She graduated from Hillsdale University and lived in Spain for a time, playing professional basketball and learning the culture and language. She is currently teaching Spanish at a charter school in Boston, Massachusetts. |
Hiking in Mammoth Lakes
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The De Grees love the great outdoors, forests, beaches, and athletic games that challenge them to try their hardest in a friendly atmosphere. They also love spending dinner time arguing about current events, history, politics, history, and society, and about the meaning of words. Each summer, the De Grees host a summer camp in the forest for friends and families. Being the funnest event of the year, the camp teaches Christian virtues through a mix of history, forest games, cooking competitions, brave walks and arts; not to mention storytelling, songs, and games around the campfire. John and Zdenka are grateful for all the children they’ve been able to work with and are excited to see The Classical Historian continue to grow.
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THE CLASSICAL HISTORIAN MISSION
The Classical Historian educates and inspires youth to seek the truth in history and to champion individual liberty and virtue. ...more
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