
178. Why Modern Education Is Failing Our Children | Michael Van Hecke
From The Tammy Peterson Podcast by Tammy Peterson
February 10, 2026 · 1h 31m · Episode 178
About this episode
Tammy Peterson discusses with Michael Van Hecke the failures of modern education and the importance of teaching history through a moral and faith-based lens.
Modern education has lost its sense of history, meaning, and moral orientation—and I believe that loss is shaping how our children see the world and themselves. In this episode, I sit down with Michael, a lifelong educator and the Founder and President of the Catholic Textbook Project, to explore why history must be taught as story rather than fragmented facts, and why faith, imagination, and truth are essential to real education. Drawing on his 35 years in Catholic education, his background in classical liberal arts, and his work as a former headmaster and educational leader, Michael explains how removing Christianity from the teaching of Western civilization distorts our understanding of culture, virtue, and human purpose. We discuss the dangers of modern social studies models, the importance of teaching children through flawed but redemptive historical figures, and how parents and educators can help restore wisdom, courage, and hope in the next generation. I invite you to listen thoughtfully, share your reflections in the comments, and subscribe if you value meaningful conversations about faith, culture, and the formation of the human person. Find more from Michael: Catholic…
People in this episode
Host: Tammy Peterson
Guest: Michael Van Hecke
Topics covered
- modern education
- history
- faith
- imagination
- truth
- Christianity
- cultural understanding
Keywords
- education
- history
- Christianity
- cultural education
- moral orientation
- social studies
- classical liberal arts
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Catholic Textbook Project, Catholic Liberal Education, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
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