Sir Jonathan Bate Announced as Keynote Speaker at the 2025 National Symposium for Classical Education

The 2025 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 annual flagship event of the Great Hearts Institute, which is dedicated to renewing the tradition of classical education by directly supporting educators, school leaders, and families.

Among the impressive list of speakers is Sir Jonathan Bate, a Regents Professor at Arizona State University. Bate is a returning speaker at the Symposium, but this time he will be approaching the stage to deliver one of the distinguished keynote addresses.

Carol McNamara, Director of the Great Hearts Institute, said they are honored to welcome him back as a keynote speaker. “Professor Bate is a Shakespeare scholar of the highest order, and we are fortunate to have him in our own academic backyard at Arizona State University, where he is a foundation professor of literature and environmental humanities,” she said. “He joins us to explain to us the centrality of Shakespeare’s plays and poetry to the classical tradition. Like the students at Great Hearts and other classical academies today, Shakespeare was a student of Latin and Greek, and the beneficiary of a classical education.”

Bate is renowned for his work as a scholar and biographer of iconic literary figures, including William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, John Clare, and Ted Hughes. He has authored twenty books, many of which have received prestigious awards. His impact on the world of Shakespearean studies is unparalleled, having served on the Board of the Royal Shakespeare Company and edited their editions of Shakespeare’s Complete Works and Collaborative Plays. His contributions extended beyond the page, as he co-curated the celebrated Shakespeare exhibition at the British Museum during the 2012 London Olympics.

In addition to his scholarship, Bate’s creative work shines through in Being Shakespeare, his one-man play written for Simon Callow, which has been performed in numerous venues worldwide, including London’s West End, New York, and Chicago. His role as chair of the Hawthornden Foundation further underscores his commitment to supporting creative writers globally.

Bate is no stranger to Great Hearts academies either, as his connection to Scottsdale Prep runs deep. His youngest son, Harry, graduated from Scottsdale Prep in the spring of 2024, while his eldest son, Tom, recently taught Humane Letters, a core humanities course at Great Hearts, at the school. Additionally, Bate served as a commencement speaker at Scottsdale Prep just a few years ago, further reinforcing his ties to the community. He was recently interviewed by BBC Radio 4, where he talked about his son’s experience as a scholar at a Great Hearts academy. See the excerpt below:

At the National Symposium, Bate will engage with the central theme, “Cultivating Wonder,” bringing his expertise in the great literary works that form the foundation of wonder. His deep understanding of how literature reflects the human condition will offer educators new insights into the enduring value of classical texts, such as those by Shakespeare, and how they can inspire students today. His presence will undoubtedly support the Symposium’s mission to facilitate dynamic conversations about restoring and advancing classical education.

The National Symposium for Classical Education draws participants from across the nation and beyond, uniting educators, school leaders, and public intellectuals to explore ideas in classical curriculum, pedagogy, and school leadership. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from Sir Jonathan Bate alongside other expert voices, making this year’s event one not to be missed.

Take advantage of Early Bird pricing and register for the National Symposium for Classical Education TODAY!

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