Hey there, folks. Welcome to Socrates in the studio, or Socrates in the city, the city, in this case being Lundinium, as they used to say in Roman times.

I'm Eric Metaxus, and we're talking largely about the question, the large question, what is the future of the West?

Today, to discuss that question, but more specifically with regard to classical education, I have is my guest, Catherine Berbilsing. I hope I pronounce

that correctly. We'll find out in a minute. She's headmistress and co-founder of Michaela

Community School in Wemble co-founder of Michaela Community School

in Wembley London. Michaela, that's the name of the school, is known for its tough love,

behavior systems, knowledge, curriculum, and teaching of kindness and gratitude.

Catherine read philosophy in modern languages at the University of Oxford

and has pretty much ever since taught in inner London, inner city London.

She was appointed commander of the order of the British Empire in 2020 by the Queen.

I should mention that the school, Michaela, was graded as outstanding in 2017, and in

2022, approximately 75% of all GCSEs at Michaela were graded what we would consider in the United States

from A to A plus.

So we'll get into that.

Catherine's written two books and edited two more, including the Battle Hymn of the Tiger

Teachers.

Catherine Burbils Singh, welcome to Socrates in the city.

Thank you for having me. I'm nervous about whether I pronounced many things, your name,

for example. Burbel Singh. Is that right? What kind of a name is Berbel Singh?

Well, yeah, it's, my father is Indian Guyanese. And the word, the name sing, um, my father is Indian Guyanese.

And the word, the name Singh actually, um, is a Sikh name and should really be on its own.

And yeah.

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