Dr. Junius Johnson will present at National Symposium for Classical Education’s Scholarly Talks Track

Dr. Junius Johnson, a Yale-trained theologian and philosopher, will bring his passion for wonder to the National Symposium for Classical Education in February. The Symposium theme of Cultivating Wonder connected deeply with Dr. Johnson’s mission to place wonder and beauty at the heart of education. His address, Feasting in the Land of Fairy: The Role of Enchantment in Education, will explore the essential role of wonder in nurturing the human experience, as well as its importance in classical education.

“I knew I had to be part of this,” shared Dr. Johnson about his enthusiasm for the theme. “Wonder is central to the work that I do as an educator and as a scholar, and it is essential in shaping our students’ lives. It connects us to what is good, noble, and excellent in the world. We’ll be exploring just how central the notion of wonder is to the experience of being human and thereforehow important it is in education that we are attentive to the dimension of wonder in our students.”

Dr. Johnson’s work spans theology, philosophy, literature, and music. He is the executive director of Junius Johnson Academics, where he offers intellectually rigorous courses for both adults and children. His teaching and writings emphasize imagination as a path to understanding beauty, virtue, and truth, particularly within the Christian and Classical intellectual traditions. His literary interests range from fantasy to historical texts, and he has published five books, including The Father of Lights: A Theology of Beauty and On Teaching Fairy Stories.

A self-described devotee of story, Dr. Johnson believes fiction connects us to something beyond ourselves, reaching toward “ourmemory of a home we have not yet seen.” His academic work further pursues these themes by framing them within Christian Trinitarian thought, which he describes as the necessary foundation for understanding life and beauty in a complex world. This commitment, both existential and intellectual, aims to draw others into a deeper experience of beauty and wonder, especially through stories and art that recognize and redeem the brokenness of the world.

In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Johnson is a professional musician, performing on the French horn and electric bass. Helives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Rebekah, and their two children, where he continues to write and teach.

At the Symposium, as part of the Scholarly Talks Track, Dr. Johnson will offer insights into how enchantment can be cultivated as a critical element of education. The Scholarly Talks Track is where scholars and public intellectuals join us at Symposium tospeak, instruct, and inspire educators and classical education leaders in our engagement with the great books and ideas, books, proofs, question, and artistic works that form the content and core of our formational work with our students in the classical classroom. Other tracks include Leadership, K-5, 6-12, K-12, Accessibility, as well as Keynotes and Panels.

The National Symposium for Classical Education, set to take place at the Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe, Arizona, February 19-21, 2025, promises to be an inspiring event for educators and enthusiasts of classical education. The Symposium is the annualflagship event of the Great Hearts Institute, which is dedicated to renewing the tradition of classical education by directlysupporting educators, school leaders, and families.

The Symposium draws participants from across the nation and beyond, uniting educators, school leaders, and publicintellectuals to explore ideas in classical curriculum, pedagogy, and school leadership. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Junius Johnson alongside other expert voices, including keynote speakers Jessica Hooten Wilson, Sir Jonathan Bate, and Matthew Crawford, making this year’s event one not to be missed.

REGISTER TODAY for the 2025 National Symposium for Classical Education to take advantage of early bird discounts at https://classicaleducationsymposium.org/en/registration-form.

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